Dearest Mr. & Mrs. Garcia:

James Roget defines a “friend” as a “companion,” or “confidant;” Webster explicates one as “a person whose caring lies in accordance to your well-being.” While these scholars try, neither definition, nor any other could ever due Ben’ s friendship justice. He would cross any boundary for a loved one, and would never let them down. Never have I had such a reliable and good friend, and I imagine, never will I know anyone near his caliber again.

My favorite memory of Ben is how he lit up a room when he entered it. For if Ben was there, everyone had to be there. He was the life of all of our friends, and the gravity that brought us all together so often. The loss of this gravity is what adds so potently to my sadness; for the friends I once saw so often, I may never see again.

While this loss of gravity is so arduous, we all must realize that that is exactly why the Lord took him home, for it is affecting and changing the lives of hundreds of people. Not to say that any of our lives do not make an imprint, but I can say for myself, my passing would not be as noteworthy, nor as massive. But, with the loss of Ben, and due to the immense love that we all shared for him, every one of us will forever be changed.

While we all loved his humor, his reliability, his light, and mostly that crooked smile, it was his amazingly altruistic personality that made the biggest impression on me. For I had never met a person who never had a problem with anyone else, until I met Ben Garcia; furthermore, I never met a person who had met and not loved him, for even people who had only heard about him through hearsay considered him family! Ben never had problems with anyone, simply because he placed everyone before himself. My girlfriend, his best friend, is an example of this. The example is not who she is but what she is, my girlfriend. Ben’s California family new his name was synonymous with hers, Ben and Jenn. They could never be separated. So how could he let someone be with her, especially, when that is all that he ever wanted? The answer is, the person that wanted to be with her, was one of his friends, thus Ben said it was fine. While one night he said to me that I was the only friend of his, or person that he would approve of, I know in my heart that Ben only said that because he was placing his friend’s feelings in front of his own. Ben gave this approval even though it broke his heart to do so, and that was the kind of man he was, one who placed his happiness second. While I will eternally miss his smile, laughter, reliability, and the endless nights we spent at bars, restaurants, or just in our apartment’s playing Madden, I will forever remember the word that summarizes his unforgettable life; altruism.

My life, along with the lives of my friends will be forever changed by the most genuine, kindest, and funniest person I have ever, and will ever have the pleasure to meet. His tragically short life has, and will always change my life’ s perception.

Love Always:

Judd Ross Allen