The Lubin School of Business has been profoundly affected by the recent tragic deaths of two Lubin students. Although I did not know Max Moreno or DJ Henry personally, I have felt the impact of their shocking and untimely deaths resonate throughout the Lubin and Pace community. I offer my sincere condolences to the families, friends, teammates, classmates, faculty, advisers and acquaintances who feel the loss of these two lives most directly. There are no words that are adequate to alleviate the pain but I hope that we all will continue to find comfort in each other’s support and friendship.
I have been impressed by the empathy, restraint, thoughtfulness and constructive response to these tragedies by all those touched by them. I feel the communal sadness of the Pace Community but I also feel the shared conviction to seek the truth and to move forward.
Thanksgiving is upon us and this year in particular it is hard to escape the idea that this very American holiday is about more than family get-togethers and holiday meals. When tragedy unexpectedly touches our lives, we remember that each day is precious and life is volatile and fragile. It is a time to remind ourselves to be good to all the people who are important to us, to use each day to pursue our goals and improve our lives, to see our respective glasses as at least half full and to take full advantage of the opportunities before us.
I have lost loved ones but I am still inspired by them. As life inevitably moves on, my wish for everyone most affected by these two tragic deaths is that the inner light you knew within Max and DJ serves as a continuing inspiration for you to incorporate a bit of Thanksgiving into each and every day.