For Brian

Brian,

You were an inspiring teammate and a fierce, loving friend. You may not have realized it, but I looked up to you a lot. You were a beautiful person with so much going for you and nothing was ever tough enough to stop you. To me, you represented all that was kind, pure, free-spirited, and good left in this occasionally frightening world. You had the courage that others didn’t, to stand up and brighten the world, even if it meant a never-ending battle against the things that tried to make this world worse. Unlike most, you chose to do what was right, rather than what was easy. A short life you lived, but a full life you made of it. Out of everything that has crossed my mind since you left (from sorrow, to fear, to confusion), not once was I even the slightest bit mad at you. My years of knowing you have made me realize that your actions were always good and selfless, sacrificing your time to benefit everyone else. It is clear to me that you must have been going through an unexplainable and unbearably painful illness, which was ultimately unbeatable. It truly warms my heart to know that throughout your fight you were fearless, and not once did you give up. I am sure of this because that is exactly the kind of person you were. You were the epitome of dedication. Unaware to you, Coach Cieslik once told the team that you were one of the most inspiring people he had ever met. He said that regardless of the injuries and obstacles that constantly plagued you, you never stopped running. You also always knew how to cheer me up whenever I was in a bad situation. Even after you graduated, you were always enthusiastic about coming back to visit. I was always excited to go to the Wegman’s grocery store you worked at, knowing that you would be working outside with a bright smile on your face, and ready for a friendly conversation. At running camp in Canadensis, your training didn't stop after practice. One of my fondest memories from camp was you smuggling bags of Cheerios into your cabin for a late-night snack. I should also add that you were quite the ladies man. The girls were always after you, and you would know a funny or suave comment to get their attention. While the rest of us were relaxing outside, throwing a Frisbee, or even taking a nap, you were the one doing an abdominal workout or push-ups. You were by far the most ecological and the healthiest person I have ever met. I will always remember your love for the environment. How you would ride your bike to school every day as opposed to polluting the earth with a car, and your commitment to recruit others for your cause. How you loved being outdoors, running through scenic trails, and long-distance biking. I loved how you grew crops with your brother, and made the freshest salads, plucked from the earth literally minutes before generously serving it. Even my father told me stories of how you would always come up to him at the gym to simply to say hello. This tragedy is so painfully perplexing to me because we saw each other merely weeks before the event. And the thing about it is you concealed your troubles to the point where it was unbeknown to me. Only a noble person would be valiant enough to not let others worry. My memories of you are only bright and happy ones. In fact, I don't think I can remember a time when a smile wasn't on your face. It is strange, how in death, you have brought so many people together. As saddening as it was, your funeral was quite a sight to behold. Hundreds of people came to see you. People ventured from all over the globe; friends and family from past and present, telling stories of your wonderful existence. To see that reminded me that though we may come from different places, our hearts beat as one. I hope you understand how many people you have touched in your life. Your story has made me realize the importance of staying diligent through tough times. My outlook on life is now as bright as yours. It may be a while before I can truly accept your departure, but it helped me understand the gift of life, and love, and friendship. Criticizing our troubles and plights in life is ungrateful, for pain is just a way of showing that we are alive, and everything’s not lost. So now, Brian Deppa, I celebrate your wonderful life. You see, although you are gone, everything that you worked for will live on forever in all of us. You are a guardian who has immortalized yourself through being charitable, and pure, and brave, and true. Right to the very end. I will miss you dearly. Rest in peace, my friend.

Sincerely,
Max