Amid the mourning at Friday evening’s memorial for College sophomore and urban studies major Alex Ryles, there was a “sweetness in the air,” University Chaplain Chaz Howard said.
The Terrace Room of Claudia Cohen Hall was filled with people, but instead of just tears, there were “hugs and smiles,” Howard said, as friends and family spoke about their memories of Ryles. Everyone from his professors to his roommates and friends remembered Ryles as personable, intelligent, funny and charming.
Ryles was found dead on Nov. 22. He is reported to have committed suicide, Stephen Kocher of the University Chaplain’s Office said on Nov. 23.
Two of Ryles’ professors in the Urban Studies Program spoke about his personality in the classroom, highlighting his wit, humor and talent.
Professor Michael Nairn, who taught Ryles in an urban studies seminar, recalled Ryles’ “expansive” writing style. He said after Ryles’ passing, he unconsciously began sitting in Ryles’ chair, just to “to keep it warm.”
Elaine Simon, co-director of the Urban Studies Program, said Ryles’ talents would have prepared him to excel in both urban and classical studies, and cited excerpts from his essays in order to display his unique sense of humor.
Two of Ryles’ roommates and friends, College sophomore John Humiston and College junior Kyle Lutkewitte, offered a heartfelt account of their lives and friendships with Ryles.
Lutkewitte remembered late-night dance parties and described humorously how he and Ryles would text each other from within the apartment about “noises [they] heard.”
Humiston likened his friendship with Ryles’ to skiing, that in the end, “you always had someone to drink hot chocolate with,” although it usually ended up being “coffee at 3 a.m.”
Humiston described anecdotally some of Ryles’ quirks — his penchant for cleanliness, his sometimes outrageous stories and his love for taffy — but highlighted how special a friend Ryles was.
Ryles was “beautiful, inside and out,” he said.
Following the memories from his roommates, College juniors Adam Hartheimer and Rachel Tashjian shared anecdotes about their close relationships with Ryles, mentioning his spontaneity and charm.
Hartheimer described that Ryles would sometimes join undergraduate admissions tours on campus pretending to be a high school senior from Mississippi and would ask the tour guide outrageous questions.
Tashjian recalled Ryles’ brilliant smile, his “sartorial” style and the elaborate notes he would leave on her door.
The speakers were followed by a slideshow, featuring photographs of Ryles and friends spanning from his childhood to his college years.
After the slideshow, guests were invited to speak openly about their memories of Ryles. Some described his uncanny talent for impressions — most notably of “Penelope,” a character from a Saturday Night Live sketch — his witty charm and his thoughtfulness as a friend.
Urban studies majors, Howard said in closing, often want to change the world.
However, he continued, Ryles had already changed the lives of all of his friends and acquaintances — and Howard urged all in attendance to “cherish your memories of Ryles.”
Any person wishing to contribute comments or additional information should e-mail Daily Pennsylvanian Managing Editor Samantha Sharf at sharf@dailypennsylvanian.com.
This article has been corrected to reflect that Kyle Lutkewitte is junior in the College. The article misstated that he is a College Sophomore.
