Two weeks after his tragic death, many of Shawn Bryant's friends still say they cannot find words that would do justice to his memory. At funeral services held in Richmond last week, between 800 and 1,000 of Bryant's friends and family said goodbye to the "dedicated," "outgoing" third year who passed away on Feb. 12.
Though words may fall short of expressing what Bryant meant to them, third-year College student Josh Hess, Bryant's high school friend and former roommate, said the size of the ceremony "says how much he meant to a lot of people."
In attendance were many of Bryant's high school friends, who flew in from colleges all over the country. His entire Commerce School block also attended the ceremony, having known Bryant for much of the past year. In this group of students, Bryant found close friends and acquaintances, every last one of whom seemed to mention that he was "a lot of fun" to be around and that he was "always smiling." They said they remember Bryant's "red rosy cheeks" and "distinct laugh."
One only has to mention Bryant's name to get his friends talking and gesturing excitedly to emphasize what Bryant's friendship meant to them.
They speak of his frequent "wry, funny comments," and say that he was "hilarious" and "always making you laugh."
"In block, he wasn't always outspoken, but once you got to know him, it was like you had known him for years," a Commerce student and former classmate of Bryant said, who requested that her name be withheld.
Third-year Commerce student Ryan Kershner, another of Bryant's former roommates and fellow block member, related similar sentiments.
"Basically, in class he was really quiet," Kershner said. "He sometimes got nervous speaking in public."
On the contrary, he added laughingly, "Shawn was definitely the loudest one in our apartment, by far."
More than words, it is the enthusiasm of Bryant's friends in responding to questions about him that speaks to his bright impact on their lives.
During his first year, Bryant lived in Kent Dorm with his twin brother, third-year Engineering student Chris Bryant. Jack Delaney, Shawn's friend and hallmate first year, smiled broadly when asked to describe him.
After a moment's thought, Delaney said, "He was just such a great guy. There's so much you could say."
Asked if he could think of any stories about what Bryant was like in class, Delaney recalled taking a difficult and long test last year. With time running out and the class panicking, he remembered, "Shawn was just laughing about it when the teacher came in at the end, making jokes. ... He always kept his sense of humor about him."
One student said the last time she remembers seeing Bryant, he was laughing as he left class in Monroe Hall. This seems a fitting final image for a guy who said things like, "You're never too cheap for good toilet paper" -- but Bryant was also a dedicated student and volunteer with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad.
When asked how he would describe Bryant in one word, Hess at first said "happy-go-lucky." After speaking to friends and classmates, it is clear that this is one of the most fitting ways to describe him.
Hess, who had known Bryant since freshman year at J.R. Tucker High School in Richmond, also said his friend was "driven."
"When Shawn found something he wanted to do, he'd work hard to make it happen," Hess said.
The University had been Bryant's "dream school" since high school, and he made it his goal to be admitted. To that end, he worked "incredibly hard" during his four years of high school, Hess said.
Once at the University, Bryant was accepted to the Commerce School, where he pursued a career in investment banking. He worked hard in the hunt for summer internships and took trips to New York to experience the field with his Commerce School block.
"Shawn was relaxed, but got his work done [and] he made people feel comfortable working in groups," Kershner said. "He was always in a good mood."
Outside of class, Bryant was working toward certification with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad. He spent one day a week riding with ambulances from 5:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
"He did the same thing in Richmond over the summer and fell in love with it," Hess said.
Bryant brought his hardworking attitude to both Monroe Hall and his volunteer work with the rescue squad, according to friends.
Often hard-pressed to come up with just one story that would express Bryant's cheerfulness, sense of humor, and passion, his friends now shake their heads and say simply, "He was such a wonderful person."
They joke about not being able to come up with stories that wouldn't be embarrassing.
Bryant was a fan of University football who "made it out to all the games," Kershner said, though he jokingly admitted that Bryant was "a bit of a fair-weather basketball fan."
Bryant leaves behind his twin brother, loving parents, an extended family and many dedicated friends at the University. Pictures show Bryant with friends at parties, with the big toothy smile for which he was known. He will be remembered as a dedicated and well-rounded student who worked hard for his goals but "knew how to have a good time" as well, Kershner said.
Though no memorial service has taken place at the University, his friends have come together to tell stories to support one another. It will be photographs of costume parties, images of Bryant laughing and the memory of his dedication to every aspect of his life that they will remember.
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