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Today's most e-mailed
Prior days' news: By date | Search This week's print issue Back issues: By date | Search April 18, 2007Ryan ClarkRyan Clark, 22, was called “Stack” by his friends at Virginia Tech, which pretty much means that everyone the personable fifth-year senior met at the university ended up calling him that. Among them was Mary Le, a junior psychology major who fondly remembers first meeting Mr. Clark. She was a freshman who had shown up at a community-services club meeting, feeling awkward in a room full of strangers. “He was the first person to come up and introduce himself to me,” she says. “He could tell I didn’t know anyone, so he sat next to me the whole meeting and talked to me. It meant so much to me.” “And he was like that with everyone,” she recalls.  Photo by Ryan A. Bing, WSLS News Mr. Clark, who was scheduled to graduate in May, kept himself busy with school activities. He maintained a 4.0 grade-point average while majoring in both biology and English. He played baritone for the Marching Virginians, the university’s marching band, and also served as its personnel officer. He planned to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology. Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Clark still found time to help others. During the summers he worked at a camp, counseling children and adults with special needs, and he spent his 2005 Thanksgiving vacation in New Orleans helping with relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. At the time of his death he was a resident adviser at the West Ambler Johnston dormitory. “He was always in leadership positions,” says Andrew D. Mager, a recent graduate who played with Mr. Clark in the band for four years. Mr. Mager says he was not surprised to hear reports that Mr. Clark was killed while going to the aid of a fellow student. “He was the type of guy who would go out of his way to help someone else in need,” says Mr. Mager. Numerous blog postings on the Internet are dedicated to Mr. Clark, and they all describe him in the same way: friendly, caring, and infectiously happy. The Marching Virginians’ Web site has a message from the director and assistant director that reads in part, “He was a loved friend, mentor, and role model who will always hold a special place in the hearts of all the MVs as a true example of The Spirit Of Tech.” —Eugene McCormack Posted on Wednesday April 18, 2007 | Permalink |Comments |
Man..Another beautiful person gone..god must have needed angels,because he got 32 when you guys knocked on his door
— lachelle anderson Apr 25, 10:57 AM #