Reflections

Brad was an incredible human being who touched so many people’s lives in so many different ways. He was quite simply, ”one of the nicest guys in the world.” He was both a mentor and true friend to everyone he knew. He possessed an incredibly beautiful smile that complimented his warm and caring personality that he carried with him everywhere he went. As beautiful as his appearance on the outside was, it was what was on the inside of Brad Wilby that truly defined who he was as a person. Brad Wilby defined the word character. He was loyal, caring, generous, helpful, honest, loving and hardworking. He was always willing to help people. He was genuine.

I was very fortunate to be able to spend a lot of quality time with Brad, both professionally and socially. I got to know him on a very personal level and thought of him as a member of my own family. He will be missed in a big way. We all loved him and lost a great friend in Brad Wilby. God bless you, Brad.

-Shawn Griffin, June 7, 2006

I have known Brad since I kindergarden. We started playing ball together when I was 7. We played all sorts of sports together, but most importantly became great friends. Brads family always took me in and cared for me. I still keep in contact with them to this day, and our families will always be friends.

Brad is the first of my close friends to pass away. For the past year I have not understood why it happended when it did. But now I look back on his life, and who he has touched. I realize now, that he has changed the lives of thousands, young and old. He did what he loved up until his death. This becomes a lesson for those of us still left behind. Follow your dreams, and you will change the world. Life is short and unpredictable, so you should live every day to the fullest. My entire life, Brad had directed me this way. To ignore the insignificant things in life that bothered me, and to focus on the things that really matter. Though his life was short, it was more impactful to the masses than most people can ever dream of doing. There are few people ever created like Brad. I am so happy that I was able to experience over half of his life. His teachings will remain inside all of us for generations to come.

-Ted Clark, January 29, 2008

Brad and I have been friends since 6th grade. We graduated high school together, danced at proms, played on the beach. We've laughed together and cried together. Brad was one of my closest friends growing up—he was just always around. When I heard about Brad's death from his ex-girlfriend and my best friend Lindsay I simply didn't believe it. Something this terrible couldn't happen to someone so young and full of life. "We are only 25!" I kept thinking and repeating that whole weekend. As our friends from high school gathered together we cried together, we laughed together, we remembered the fun times we all shared. It felt good to laugh about things, and we knew that Brad would have wanted it that way. Brad was a big shot down here in Haddonfield! He was a big athlete and student: an all-around good guy. Girls wanted to date him, and mothers loved him. After the funeral I was struck by how much of an impact Brad had on other people in his short life. He accomplished things that many only dream of accomplishing in their lives. I left his funeral with a better understanding of my friend, and a desire to make a difference in people's lives. Brad was special, he was different than other people. He had the ability to make you feel like you were the only person in the room, and he will be sorely missed. However, Brad would want us all to carry on his philosophy and attitude. He never gave up—whether it was on the field or in life. Brad was my friend, now Brad is my hero.

-Katie Keating, June 13, 2006

I was Brad’s counselor/advisor/friend at Plymouth State University. I sent a sympathy card the other day and couldn’t believe that I was sending this card in memory of Brad. It has been difficult to say the least. I watched him go from an 18-year-old kid to a grown man who was kind, genuine, deserving, funny and handsome with the whole world ahead of him. I am pleased to say that we became friends over his time here at Plymouth State. I learned about his family and his sister Missy’s adventures and his nieces and nephews. We talked football as he was an Eagles fan in Patriot Nation, I drove him home after late nights working on papers and we laughed about silly things. I met his family when they came up on weekends and even after he graduated and started making his own mark he came to visit me. I remember sitting in my office with Brad and a friend of mine came in so I said goodbye to Brad, got my hug as he always gave me a hug upon arriving and leaving and my friend came him. She just looked at me and made a comment about the view, and Brad of course turned beat red and I just laughed. I don’t think he ever knew his impact on people, yet we all knew that his smile would light up a room and but his true appeal was in his kindness.

I will miss him dearly. This has been really difficult, when I say that a former student/friend has passed nobody understands that Brad was a friend more than a student. He has made a huge impact on me, I hadn’t seen him in a while but in some way just knowing he was out there was important. He would have set the world on fire and is saddens me to know that none of us will have the opportunity to see the wonderful things he would have accomplished.

-Stephanie D. Green MSW, June 13, 2006

I will be the first to admit that I did not know Brad very well, but the side of him I did know constantly reminds me that he was certainly the most genuine person that I have ever had the good fortune to meet. The summer that Brad was hired I had the opportunity to intern under athletic director, Mike Hanna. You could tell from Brad's first day in the office that he was going to bring a new sense of enthusiasm and passion for the game, as well as an all around appreciation for life. He had a 100 watt smile that made any girl within a ten mile radius blush when he looked in your direction. I also got to know Brad during my time as a student athletic trainer. It was always so refreshing to work his games or practices because he was never one to point fingers or pass blame, even after the most devastating losses. He always had the ability to find the good in a situation, and made his mission to make you see it too. Last November I was diagnosed with cancer, and even though I had already graduated, Brad always made sure I knew he was thinking of me and rooting for me to beat this. I ventured back to Hobart several times in the past year and he never missed an opportunity to ask me how I was and how my treatments were progressing. I was fortunate enough to finish my chemotherapy treatments exactly a week after Brad passed and I believe with every bone in my body that he was there watching over me and cheering me on as always. As an HWS alumna I can truly say that we lost a member of our family...but his legacy will live on forever. This is truly a tragedy, but I know that if Brad were here today he would be urging us to find the light at the end of the tunnel and telling us to keep our heads up because tomorrow would be a better day. Rest in peace Brad... gone but never forgotten.

-Lydia Broughton-Wilder '05, June 12, 2006

The first time a saw Brad I was on a tennis court with my wife on a beautiful summer Geneva day. As usual, Sandra was schooling me on the court and Brad and Missy were on a couple of courts away gracefully volleying to each other. As I gathered my stray tennis balls from other courts, I would look over at them and was struck by their natural athleticism. From that day on my friendship with Brad centered around a court.

We grew to know each other on a racquetball court. That is where I was introduced to Brad’s boyish eagerness and outstanding athleticism. I always had to prepare for Brad’s cannonball shots and his twinkle in his eye when he got one by. Win or loss, you could never tell as Brad’s infectious laugh and smile always dominated the game. I think Brad just loved to play and he never hesitated to stretch himself.

I will never forget watching Brad and a friend play tennis-soccer in the rec center. I was stupefied by how easily they volleyed soccer balls over the net using their feet; I could barely do the same with a racquet and a tennis ball!

I will miss Brad as a friend in sport and in life. And I will always remember his love of sport and the lessons it teaches us on and off the field. You will not be forgotten my friend.

-Derek Lustig, June 12, 2006

Brad’s impact on me was tremendous during the short time I had the pleasure of knowing him. Whether I was bumping into Brad in a hallway, talking with him in his office, or playing pick up basketball games with him in Bristol Gym, the one constant I noticed about Brad was that he was a genuinely happy person. Nothing seemed to bother him. Whenever or wherever I saw Brad, he had a smile on his face. This radiance that he exuded was genuine and attracted people to him. Brad was a leader in the truest sense.

-Izzi Metz '98, June 12, 2006

My initial introduction to Brad was in August 2004 on our first day of soccer preseason. My youthful assistant coaches and I were walking to the dining hall when we glimpsed this tall, handsome young coach. Everyone went "WHOAAAAAAAA--did you see that?""

My grandmother, who was from the South, had a saying that goes "handsome is as handsome does and ugly is to the bones..." . We wondered if Brad would be like that--one of those talented, good looking  athletes possessing that cliched  narcisstic self-absorption common to many young men with the world at their finger tips.

What we learned fairly quickly was that Brad was a wonderful breath of fresh air, far removed from the stereotype we had been so ready to cast upon him. I believe I was struck most by how gentle and genuine Brad was. The depth of his humanity spoke volumes about the kind of person he was  and the quality of the family that he came from. I will miss him.

-Aliceann Wilber, June 9, 2006

I wanted to start by saying how deeply saddened I was to hear about Brad. Doug Reeland called me on Friday evening, and I have not stopped thinking of the awfulness of this whole weekend. I am stranded here in Florida with no one to talk to that really knew Brad; however, I wanted to add in my own thoughts about Brad and his admirable qualities. Brad and I were roommates while I was at HWS and I could not have been happier to live with any other guy in town.  We were both new to town, knew no one and had to lean on each other for support and to learn the ropes of HWS. 

Brad and I spent many days and nights together just hanging out and relaxing. I have read what you all have said about him and wanted to express the same emotion for Brad’s character outside of work and on a more personal level. I apologize that I have to piggy back on your words, but I am still at a loss for how to express myself. This strikes home very hard for me after being close with Brad and because we are the same age; not to say that his loss is any less hurtful to all of you still at HWS.

Again, I am so very sorry to hear about this tragedy, and if you remember, please pass my condolences to his family on my behalf.  They are wonderful people and Mike; you were right on by saying that is where Brad got his charm and personality. We have said prayers for all of you and the Wilbys and hope that your strength as a staff can pull through these very trying times.

-Joe Bart, June 7, 2006

First and foremost, I extend my sincerest condolences to Brad's friends and family. It's been nearly a week, and I am still struggling to understand how this happens to someone so young and seemingly healthy. Brad was the nicest person I've had the pleasure of working with. I know the Hobart men and the kids in the Geneva community benefited from his short time here and are better people for knowing him. I pray that Brad's loved ones are comforted by the knowledge that Brad is watching over them from Heaven.

-Ken DeBolt, June 7, 2006