One unforgettable whirlwind

My first encounter with Ben was sitting next to him in the high school orientation, put in the same section because of our last names beginning with the same letter.

Such a normal meeting would have never prepared me for the presence of one unforgettable whirlwind of Ben Watkins. Ben lightened up every room he walked into, exuding a kindness and exuberance that is impossible to forget. Only Ben would have the ability to crack a joke under his breath and then answer a teacher's question with the perfect poker face in the same breath.

Whether it was witnessing his passion as a musician or holding discussions in class or confiding in him as a friend, his presence put you at ease and left you engaged in a way only someone with endless warmth and compassion could manage.

The impact he has left on so many of our lives, even just in passing, is irrefutable. I am honored to have spent this time knowing him. His spirit will never be forgotten, and may he rest easy.

Justine Wang