Obituaries | 2000-2010 – Page 4 – Wesleyan Magazine Classnotes

Obituaries | 2000-20102016/09/06

AMELIA S. GEGGEL ’06

GEGGEL, Amelia Sarah Age 32, of Cambridge, formerly of Dover, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. She was the cherished wife of Eric Mattison, the loving daughter of Robert & Karen (Brown) Geggel, the inspiring older sister of Ezra Geggel & his wife Michal Miller, the treasured granddaughter of Elizabeth Geggel & her late husband Carl, and the late Pierce & Norrine Brown, and a hero to her aunts and uncles, cousins, extended family and friends. Amelia overcame challenges throughout her life. She was born with a rare ear condition and endured multiple surgeries and ensuing complications. Despite wearing hearing aids, she was always an excellent student, graduating from the Noble & Greenough School, Wesleyan University, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Innately knowing how to meet life’s challenges, she became an advocate for environmental causes and social justice. Her authenticity, spirit, and sense of responsibility to the larger world made her a natural leader and a role model to her family and friends.

Diagnosed with incurable sarcoma six years ago, Amelia knew she had only a short time to fill this world with her energy. Despite her constant chemotherapy schedule, Amelia finished her master’s degree and worked full time for an environmental consulting firm. She met her perfect match just prior to her diagnosis; three years later they married on the coast of Maine. Eric stood by her throughout her treatments, providing humor and support in equal measure. She traveled and hiked across five continents – to New Zealand, Patagonia, Chile, England, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Cyprus, Brazil, the Rockies, and throughout New England. Her personality, dry sense of humor, creativity, and genuine, remarkable strength will serve as an inspiration to all those fortunate to have known her and her story. Services will take place at Temple Aliyah, 1664 Central Avenue, Needham on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 1:30 p.m., with burial at Beit Olam East, 60 Old Sudbury Road, Wayland. Following burial, memorial observance will be at the home of Robert & Karen Geggel until 8 p.m. and continuing Monday, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., and on Tuesday and Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to First Descents, which provides outdoor adventures for young adults with cancer (www.firstdescents.org) or a foundation to be established by the family to honor the causes Amelia cared deeply about.

Obituaries | 2000-20102015/07/282015/09/28

TIMOTHY P. MURPHY ’05

TIMOTHY P. MURPHY, 33, who had majored in psychology, died May 7, 2015. He enjoyed all forms of sports. Among those who survive are his parents, Timothy J. Murphy and Kathleen M. Murphy, as well as two siblings.

Obituaries | 2000-20102014/12/18

TOAN VU TRAN ’09

TOAN VU TRAN, a video blogger based in Hanoi, Vietnam, died July 23, 2014. He was 27. Known as Toan Shinoda to his followers, he returned to live and work in Vietnam after graduation from Wesleyan. His humorous video blogs covered various topics of modern social issues, and he was also know for music videos in which he sang, rapped, and covered famous bands. Fluent in English, he also posted videos on how to learn English effectively. His parents and family survive.

Obituaries | 2000-20102014/08/26

JOCELYN MOORE SWEET ’04

JOCELYN MOORE SWEET, 31, an attorney and health insurance specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, died Apr. 2, 2014. She received her degree with honors. In the years since her diagnosis with bone cancer, she earned a law degree from American University and became a health insurance specialist so that she could make sure others had access to health care. Among those who survive are her parents, Laurie Kaslove and David Moore, and her husband, Brian Sweet, two sisters, and a nephew and nieces.

Obituaries | 2000-20102013/10/25

DAVID L. HARRIS ’08

DAVID L. HARRIS, a government major, died July 31, 2008, in a hiking accident in Oregon. He was 21. During the fall semester of his senior year he studied in India. While at Wesleyan, he volunteered with the Traverse Square tutoring program and enjoyed playing and learning music. Among those who survive are his mother, father, and brother.

Obituaries | 2000-20102013/10/25

TADD GERO ’08

TADD GERO, 22, a reporter and writer who often performed stories that he h ad written, sometimes accompanied by live music, died Aug. 17, 2009, of pneumonia. At Wesleyan he was a theater major and reported for the Argus. He had been living in a community of artists in Philadelphia and working at Urban Outfitters. Among those who survive are his mother, Felissa Rose Gero,

Obituaries | 2000-20102013/10/25

NOAH L. SIMRING ’07

NOAH L. SIMRING, a talented musician who had been on leave from Wesleyan for two years, died July 29, 2006, his 21st birthday. Described as multi-talented and highly creative by family and friends, he is survived by his parents and a sister.

Obituaries | 2000-20102013/10/25

BRENDAN R. O’REILLY ’07

BRENDAN R. O’REILLY died Sept. 5, 2005, of injuries sustained in a biking accident in Prescott, Ariz. He was 20. At Wesleyan he studied chemistry and French and was the recipient of the CRC Award for outstanding work in chemistry during his freshman year. Survivors include his parents, Brian and Gail O’Reilly, a brother, and a sister.

Obituaries | 2000-20102013/10/25

TERENCE B. LEARY ’06

TERENCE B. LEARY, 19, died unexpectedly Nov. 4, 2003. He was a member of Psi Upsilon. Among his extracurricular activities, he was a pitcher for the Wesleyan baseball team. Survivors include his parents, a brother, his paternal grandparents, his maternal grandmother, and a large extended family.

Obituaries | 2000-20102013/10/25

LILLY J. M. NGUYEN ’06

LILLY J. M. NGUYEN, 29, a biology major who was in the process of applying to medical school, was killed on Nov. 21, 2010, the innocent victim of a domestic dispute between her sister and her sister’s boyfriend, both of whom died. She was working at Tufts University School of Medicine as a research technician. Among those who survive are her parents, one sister, and several nieces and nephews.