Friends, family and members of the UCSD community gathered at Price Center Plaza on May 10 to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Sixth College freshman Daniel Lee Cho. Cho was reported missing after swimming at La Jolla Shores beach on April 14 and has not been found. The candlelight vigil attracted over 100 people and featured short speeches by those close to Cho and his family.
The ceremony commenced with a short introduction by Mark Chun, the pastor of Jesus Community Church.
“It’s hard to get any closure,” Chun said. “I remember Daniel having such concern for his friends. I remember him as one who really loved people around him, and all of us are better knowing him … knowing Daniel, we’ve gained something.”
Mark Quan, campus minister for the Asian American Christian Fellowship, spoke about the grieving process and memories Cho has left with the community.
“I did things to push the grief aside; I worked, and my grief went into remission … but as soon as the dust and commotion settled, the grief returned,” Quan said. “Grief is not a state — it’s a process. While at times it appears we can’t break the cycle of grief, the pattern will break, it will end … it will come to a conclusion.”
Quan shared a conversation he had with his five-year-old son about Cho’s passing, and how that conversation brought him closer to finding closure.
“I told him that one of my students had passed away, and, as probably only a five-year-old could tell you, he smiled and said, ‘That’s good, Daddy, because now he’s in heaven,’” Quan said. “At first my reaction was one of shock and disbelief. How could a five-year-old be so cruel to think the termination of a life was a joyful occasion? But as I thought about what he said, the shock passed and gave way to peace.”
Sixth College Provost Gabriele Wienhausen also spoke at the vigil.
“Daniel has had a profound impact on all of us,” she said. “He reminded us we are a community within a larger community,” Wienhausen said. “He made us cherish and celebrate love and friendship. We know Dan will forever be in our hearts.”
Wienhausen also read an excerpt from a letter given to her by one of Cho’s teaching assistants. The letter read: “When [Daniel] spoke, his words were deliberate, lucid and clear. He stood out as someone who was very respectful of his classmates … and recognized the importance of someone else’s interpretation.”
Cho’s roommate, John Muir College junior Eric Webster emphasized the benevolent role Cho played in both Webster’s life and the lives of other members of the UCSD community.
“He opened the door in my life with a laugh and a smile,” Webster said. “Dan was happy — happy to explore, happy to meet new friends. If I had never met him, I would never have met God. It still doesn’t make sense. I don’t know if it’ll ever make sense why it happened.”
Director of Psychological and Counseling Services Reyna Juarez spoke at the conclusion of the event. Counseling services are available to those in need and can be reached at (858) 534-3755.
Cho’s family is in the process of raising $5,000 for the construction of a memorial bench to be placed at the La Jolla Shores beach. Those interested in contributing are encouraged to drop off donations to staff at the Sixth College Administration Building, where they will in turn be forwarded to Cho’s church.
