Candlelight vigil for Joao Souza

Remembered as happy, charismatic and always smiling, Joao Souza was celebrated during a candlelight vigil and memorial service held Monday, April 23.

More than 1,000 people turned out to shine a light on the 19-year-old engineering freshman who was killed on campus Sunday, April 15.

A member of Zeta Psi fraternity, Souza was celebrated by his brothers as well as President Harvey Stenger, Newman House Chaplain Sister Rose Casaleno and Rabbi Akiva Weiss of Hillel.

“It is heartbreaking that Joao is not here among us,” Stenger said. “I know he was someone special who was smart, caring, friendly, captivating and with a knack for friendship and inspiring others. He had the capacity to inspire people with his spirit, zest for life and his compassion.

“Even in these dark days of Binghamton’s history, we can rise together and reach out to those of us who are feeling a great loss and deep pain,” Stenger added. “Like you, I still find Joao’s loss unbelievable and my heart aches. The pain will last a long time for all of Binghamton University, but I hope that beginning tonight, we can draw on our sense of shared pain and sorrow and start to heal. Let’s not get lost in sorrow, but begin to look for the good things that define our campus. In this way, Joao’s spirit will live on in our community and in the hearts of succeeding generations of Binghamton University students.”

Sophomore graphic design major Oliver Schoenfeld, one of Souza’s Zeta Psi brothers who called Souza his best friend, said there were no words to describe how thankful he and his fellow fraternity brothers are for the many kind words of others. “Literally every single word helps. There’s no right of wrong way to react to something like this,” he said, as he remembered Souza. “He always wanted the best for everyone. I can’t put into words how much we are all going to miss him, but in times like this, it’s important to come together and support each other and spread love and kindness. This is what Joao would have wanted.”

Fellow Zeta Psi brothers also spoke, including Daniel Grinberg, a freshman economics major, and Daniel Greenberg, a fifth-year senior majoring in integrative neuroscience and business.

What has helped him personally, Grinberg said, was that he had the opportunity to meet with Souza’s parents and a conversation he was able to have with Souza’s father about life, death and Joao. “I told him about how amazing his son was and the apple couldn’t have fallen far from the tree.”

Over winter break, Souza spent time with Grinberg’s family. “Joao left after dinner and my father looked at me and said, ‘Danny, you are extremely lucky to have this boy as your friend.’ That is the one most memorable thing I’ll always have about him.”

Greenberg, calling Souza an angel, spoke of the lasting impact Souza had on so many people. “We remember Joao for his incredibly charismatic nature, his genuine care for others and his passion for things he held dear to his heart. Whether it was his love for soccer of his expensive taste in cars, his late nights with the fraternity, his desire to invite each and every one of us to Brazil to see how much better the beaches were, you could always hear the enthusiasm in his voice. He resonated with passion and energy and you couldn’t help but feel it rub off on you.”

Before Rabbi Weiss concluded the ceremony Qiana Watson, case management coordinator for the University, reminded everyone to “Be happy, give love, be yourself, don’t take life for granted. This life is a gift, so don’t waste it. Understand that you’re not untouchable, but love each other, talk to one another and don’t forget what happened tonight in this moment.”

“The question is ‘Why?’ and how do you deal with something like this, and the reality is, there are no answers,” said Weiss, who spoke of a book written by King Solomon that questioned the meaning of life and he had no answers. “What he was really trying to express is that the purpose in life is ‘What is our response?’ This outpouring of love and support for each other at this time.”

Weiss closed the memorial service with a song whose refrain was “there is a time and there is a season” as Souza’s fraternity brothers released biodegradable remembrance balloons.

Attendees were encouraged to write their memories of Souza to be included in a scrapbook to be sent to his parents.

A GoFundMe account has been established in Souza’s memory, to support underprivileged children in Brazil so they can pursue their dreams of playing soccer, the sport that brought so much joy to Souza. At the time of this writing 770 people had donated more than $40,000 toward the $50,000 goal.