JOHN STEVE CATILO
Two instructors who worked with fourth-year College student John Steve Catilo in Myo Sim Kendo said he was not only one of their most talented martial arts students, but also one of the most amazing people they knew.
Catilo drowned June 25 while coaching novice rowers in Alexandria, Va.
His work coaching crew was one of many service activities he was dedicated to.
Christian DeBaun, a Kendo instructor who worked with Catilo in Charlottesville, said he had known Catilo since his first year.
"He was one of my favorite people in the universe," DeBaun said. "He was a really likeable guy. A little bit shy in the beginning, but one of the most pleasant and polite people I ever knew. You know those people who never have anything bad to say about anyone."
DeBaun also said Catilo was an extremely gifted athlete.
"Kendo is traditional Japanese sword, kind of like in the movie 'The Last Samurai,'" DeBaun said. "We often get people who are very physically fit. John Steve was in superb shape, he almost had a body like a weight lifter. Often people with that body type don't make very good martial arts students, but he was the rare exception. Like Bruce Lee. A natural."
Timothy Shanahan, who instructed Catilo in northern Virginia, agreed that Catilo was extremely talented.
"This past May he got a second-degree black belt in Kendo," Shanahan said. "He was probably one of the best students we had, and a great teacher."
Shanahan said one of the most impressive aspects of Catilo's martial arts performances was his grace.
"One of the things I will remember was watching him spar -- it's full contact, but he was graceful," Shanahan said. "He had such a presence about him. He radiated energy, and he was fluid. He was the only one of us who had hair long enough to have a top knot, so we joked that he was the only one of us who looked like a real samurai."
Shanahan also remembered Catilo's unique attitude about martial arts combat.
"He had this infectious smile," Shanahan said. "He'd get that big grin on his face when I was fighting him and that's all I could see, was the grin. I couldn't help but smile."
Shanahan said Catilo was dedicated to learning and teaching Kendo, and that he lent that passion to everything he did.
"With regards to his school and other activities, he never just did anything, he attacked everything," Shanahan said. "There were some things we didn't know until we attended his service. For example, he was an incredible artist."
Shanahan also said Catilo was an example to everyone he knew.
"As much as I taught him about technique, he taught us about being a better person -- he never sought to do that, he was just being himself -- you couldn't help but emulate him in that sense," Shanahan said. "We're all hit very hard by this. It's one of those tragedies, especially with John Steve. I can't even begin to fathom what his parents must feel. He was the type of individual who when you plan, he's what you want your children to grow up to be. Intelligent, and he worked so hard."
DeBaun thinks Catilo would have continued with Kendo for the rest of his life.
"He was a dear sweet lovely person who will be greatly missed by everyone in our club," DeBaun said. "He was unforgettable."
DeBaun hopes to do something to commemorate Catilo's contributions.
"At the present time we're toying with the idea of doing some sort of memorial fund or scholarship fund," DeBaun said. "We'll try and find someone who exemplifies the qualities that John Steve had and give them free training. He'll stay in our club as a strong presence for the foreseeable future."
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