On Saturday, September 10, Colgate held a day of remem­brance for late senior Vic Krivits­ki, who died of a mediastinal germ cell tumor on August 22, 2011. A men’s and women’s rugby game, along with a barbeque, took place preceding a memorial service that was held in the chapel that eve­ning. A reception was then held at Phi Delta Theta to conclude the day.

Despite its solemn roots, Vic Fam­ily Fun Day was a celebration of life.

“It’s a significant community,” Interim Dean of the College Scott Brown said. “I knew him personally and he was really a special student.”

The atmosphere of the rugby games was vibrant. A crowd sur­rounded the pitch, all there to honor Krivitski. Next to the field, children played in a bounce house. The smell of food grilling filled the air. Yet attendees were reminded of the somber reason of their celebra­tion as members of the American Legion marched onto the field before the men’s game. A bagpipe player performed “Amazing Grace” to honor the loss of a teammate. A few spectators were even brought to tears.

Later in the day, a memo­rial service for Vic was held in the Colgate Memorial Chapel.

The service began with a slide­show honoring Krivitski, composed of pictures and videos compiled by his friends, family and professors.

An opening prayer was delivered by University Chaplain and Catholic Campus Minister Mark Shiner.

“This is a time to celebrate the way Vic lived his life,” Shiner said. “Not the time to be sad.”

Eulogies were given by various people, each representing a different aspect of his life: from his involvement in the Geol­ogy department, his standout role on the rugby team, his essence as a brother of Phi Delta Theta and his presence as a loving companion and as a son, each touching a different person’s life in a unique way.

“He gave me the courage to try things I never would have tried; to accomplish things I never thought I could have accom­plished,” senior Mike Schon, a close friend of Krivitski, said during his eulogy.

Each speech was given with little sad­ness, but instead with vigor and love. Speakers spoke not out of grief, but with the same passion for life that Krivitski had when he was alive. Yet this did not stop those who attended from being gripped with the sadness of loss. The service was concluded with the entire congregation gripping each other in brutal bear hugs to relieve the pain, something Krivitski was known to do to his friends and family.

After the service, a reception was held at Phi Delta Theta. It began with another funeral service as the members of the fra­ternity mourned the loss of their brother. As they stood around an altar shrouded in black, they each placed a sprig of evergreen on a Bible, and uttered “Till death reunites us” as a sign of their bond.

Afterwards, other guests who were not part of the chapel eulogy gave their personal stories as a way of giving tribute to Krivitski.

Contact Will Hazzard at [email protected].