Whitman news since 1896

Whitman Wire

Vol. CLIV, Issue 6
Whitman news since 1896

Whitman Wire

Whitman news since 1896

Whitman Wire

Students to mark anniversary of O’Brien’s death

One year after Richard O’Brien’s death, his friends and fraternity brothers are intent on keeping his memory alive.

As a first-year student, O’Brien died Feb. 13, 2010 when his ski caught a rough edge and sent him into a tree. He had been skiing on the Huckleberry Run, an intermediate trail at the Bluewood Ski Area near Dayton, Wash.

Three days after his death, the campus held a public memorial service in the Young Ballroom of Reid Campus Center where his friends, classmates and professors remembered O’Brien as a hilarious, friendly and adventuresome individual. In the past year, his friends have made t-shirts with “Hish”–O’Brien’s nickname–prominently displayed, and have chalked “Hish” onto sidewalks on campus.

A year later, his fraternity brothers from Beta Theta Pi are set to mark the first anniversary of his death with a reception and candlelight vigil. The reception will take place at Beta Theta Pi at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13. At 6:30 p.m., the crowd will gather outside of Beta to walk to the wheat fields. At the wheat fields, there will be a moment of silence, followed by an opportunity to share stories and memories. Anyone is welcome.

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