Each year, Matt Schaeffer, Director of Campus Ministry, begins Freshman Orientation with the same speech:
“There are three types of Cubs that come through Loyola,” he says. “There’s the Cub that simply shows up and gets his diploma, there’s the Cub that makes the most of his time here, and, finally, there’s the Cub that leaves an impact that will be felt for years to come.”
If any student ever embodied that third archetypal Cub in Mr. Schaeffer’s speech, it was Braun Levi. From winning CIF Championships on the tennis court to tutoring underclassmen in the Ignatian Scholars Writing Center, Braun’s mere presence made every aspect of Loyola better. Braun was a scholar, an athlete, a leader and—most importantly—a friend to all. Whether he had met you five minutes before or had known you all his life, it was impossible not to feel at home when you were with Braun.
I met Braun on the first day of summer school before our freshman year together. I was nervous—we all were. It was our first time stepping into an environment that was much bigger and scarier than our various middle schools. Sitting in my Cub Year One classroom, I scanned the room, looking at everyone’s faces around me. They looked as nervous as I was. That is, except for the kid sitting next to me with the blue eyes and wild shock of blond hair. We made eye contact, and I could tell he sensed the apprehension on my face. Reaching out his hand, he smiled and introduced himself as Braun Levi. And we went from there. My first interaction with Braun brought me out of my shell and helped me feel at home at Loyola.
That was the type of kid Braun was. He wanted everyone around him to feel as comfortable and happy as he did—even when we didn’t think that was possible. Over the last four years, his presence on our campus has impacted every single member of the Loyola community—whether student, teacher, coach or parent—in a profoundly positive way.
Strangely enough, the last time I ever saw Braun strikingly mirrored the first time I did. It was Friday, May 2, and I was struggling through my AP Macroeconomics final when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Looking up, I saw Braun’s smiling face looking down on me.
“You got this, man,” he said reassuringly. “Don’t worry.”
It seems unfair that Braun was taken from us so early, and that’s because it is. While Braun’s spontaneous nature and wide-ranging skill set meant that nobody could’ve predicted what he would have gone on to do, everyone knows it would’ve been something world-changing. The world today is lesser than it was just a few days ago. It will never be the same, and we shouldn’t try to pretend like it ever will be. All we can do is support each other—particularly the Levi family—and keep moving forward while trying to live our lives even half as fully as Braun did.
LLB. Love you, brother.
