In Memory of a Wonderful Guy...

It's unusual for me to write a serious blog but occasionally fate would demand it. It's been an unusual week or two for me as I recently learnt an old school friend was tragically killed in a car accident on Wednesday night. Although I've not seen this person for a few years it is a death that has hit me.

Ian Lewkowicz was a friend I've known since junior school and he was one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. I know people never speak ill of the dead but on this occasion you would be hard pressed to find anything you couldn't like about Ian. I guess his only vice was the one that killed him: he liked fast cars. Some people may frown and roll their eyes and say, "Well if he didn't drive fast then he would still be here today" but I would find it disrespectful to find excuses to justify why such a wonderful person was torn from the world. The truth is we all make mistakes, we all go that little bit faster than we should, we all let our concentration slip and take risks and 99% of the time we come out unscathed. Although it is still unclear exactly what happened on that night and everything I write here is presumption, it is obvious that he was unlucky on this occasion and it cost him his life and the life of his friend.

The road in question is poorly lit, with a high speed limit and a deceptive curve in the road which probably contributed to the factors that caused the accident but it is said you should not put too much thought into the way someone dies and instead remember how they lived. I would like to do that now.

Ian was a gentle giant, a big guy with an even bigger heart and he was always eager to help and to please. I can never recall him being nasty to anyone, even when they were nasty to him. In High School people had the potential to be cruel; mocking the way someone looks or acts... but nobody would ever make fun of Ian. His jolly and friendly attitude to everyone -- friends and strangers alike -- only helped his immunity to criticism. It was an immunity which was well deserved too because he was a very likable person who would do anything for anyone.

I remember that when it came to cross country (which, also being a big guy in high school, was not my strongest area) I would always run alongside Ian whilst the athletic individuals ran ahead. It is a fond memory. Each week we would set off at our own pace and take it slow and chat about everything we'd done during the week. We were happy just doing our thing and nobody even seemed to make fun of us for it. I always think of that time as our time to talk and catch up.

There is something incredibly strange when looking at the facebook page of someone who has passed away... you can see the events in their life leading up to the fateful night. Its eerie to see comments from people asking Ian to attend different events and then seeing his reply stating that he was already busy as if fate was clawing him in the direction he took. It's difficult to see that if he had only decided to go to one of these other events, he might still be alive today.

Only now, after his death have I realised just how popular Ian was. A multitude of people have contacted me asking me if the rumours of his death are true; begging me to tell them that it's all some cruel prank. The amount of people that have commented on Ian's page and left their respects is a testament to how loved he was.

I left my own comment which I think summed up my view of Ian perfectly. Part of it read as follows:

"I'll always remember, ever since junior school, people always mixed our names up and would, on occasion, get us confused as one another as well. I wasn't bothered then and I wouldn't be bothered now. Never have I known a greater privilege than to be mistaken for such a warm, kind, funny and friendly chap."

I only wish I was less of a cynic and had as positive an outlook on life as Ian.

I also wish I believed in Heaven so I could convince myself he was looking down on us now. Instead I will content myself with the thought that Ian has left his mark on this world and in the hearts and minds of all who knew him and now, from my -- perhaps cruel -- scientific point of view, he will be a part of everything: the trees, the air, the earth.

RIP Big man, you'll be missed.

Photo Courtesy of Adrian Clarke