On Wednesday November 6, 2024, Ty Torres died of head trauma after a surfing accident. He was 55. He leaves behind his wife, Robin, and his son, Coltrane.
On the morning of November 5th, 2024, Ty Torres went for an early surf session, something he had done countless times before. However, this time, tragedy struck. Witnesses say that after riding a wave, he appeared to lose control and was knocked unconscious after being thrown off his board. Although lifeguards and bystanders rushed to his aid immediately, performing CPR and attempting to revive him, Ty was ultimately declared dead at the scene. The exact cause of death is believed to be related to a head injury sustained during the fall, although authorities are awaiting a full autopsy report to confirm the details.
The memorial is inaccurate. He was taken to a hospital where he was declared brain dead, and his wife had him disconnected from life support equipment the next morning.
Ty was a professor, artist, raconteur, polymath, father, brother, husband, and a great man. He was also my fraternity brother, one of my closest friends from my undergraduate years, and one of the very few who stayed in touch.
Many people are writing tributes to Ty which talk about his recent accomplishments- about the philosophy classes he taught, his art, his love of life, and his expertise at surfing. Yes, he was an avid expert surfer. He even appeared on the cover of a surfing magazine in his youth. You could say he died doing what he loved. One of his childhood friends wrote on facialbook "...great soul who understood people and found the salient part of every individual on Earth, never passing up a chance to make anyone feel good." That really sums up Ty perfectly.
I met Ty in the Fall of 1987. One of our pledges of that time went to high school with him, and invited him to our parties, eventually talking him into pledging as well in the next semester. Ty had long, flowing black hair and an easy smile. I'm not much into guys, but he was really good looking. I knew he could seduce any person he wished.
But here's the rub- while he KNEW he was hot, It didn't go to his head. He was genuine, friendly, and CARED about people. He actually listened. He was easy to talk to and easy to like. When he was "rushing," he and I drank together often. He was amused that I'd never even tried drugs. He didn't treat me like an outcast- he treated me like a brother: HIS brother. He always had my back- and I had his. There was never a doubt.
With Ty 1991
Ty pledged with the Spring 1988 pledge class. His pledge class had several really good guys in it, but I think Ty was the engine that kept them going. They became brothers in late April 1988- the week after the annual Toga party. (They would've gotten in sooner, but we needed pledges to work Toga.)
Fare you well, fare you well I love you more than words can tell. (Grateful Dead)
As a brother, Ty was a phenomenon. You couldn't ask for a better brother. He was an incredible ambassador for the letters, and his hotness brought MANY women to our events.
After I graduated, we stayed in touch. He was kind enough to let me sleep on his couch a couple of times when I visited PSU before he graduated. Eventually, he was elected vice president of the fraternity. He also played "Sahntah" at the annual house Christmas gift exchange- which in our house was a great honor bestowed upon a senior. When Wife and I visited California, we made it a point to visit Ty, his wife, and their newborn son. He told me I'd gotten fat. (He wasn't wrong.)
Then I transitioned. Ty was one of the people I told via video (as I didn't have the money to fly out to California.) He immediately gave his support. He never dead-named nor misgendered me. When my fraternity's 125th anniversary weekend came in 2015, Ty talked me into attending, as I wasn't going to do so. He said he would walk with me to the House from the hotel to support me. He also told me of pre-event happies in another brother's room. At the event (which he helped plan and run) he was a dynamo of energy, and made sure to check in with me occasionally to make sure I was ok. Seeing him, was really the highlight of the trip. I told him his beard made him look old.
The last time I saw him alive was last was at a mini-reunion..
We kept in touch, usually via text or facialbook. We had fun destroying the arguments of 45 cultists on Ty's fb feed. We talked baseball and Penn State football. The last text I sent that he saw was a meme making fun of his Yankees, who had just lost the World Series.
Then, the day after the election- a chilly, rainy day here in State College- I received a text from my dear friend (and fraternity little sister) Iva disclosing the horrific news. I was downtown running an errand for work. I walked back to work, stunned (I must've looked like a zombie.) Once back at work, I went into the breakroom and broke down sobbing. One of the undergrads I work with gave me a hug. But my life and the world had changed.
Ty was gone.
I can't imagine how his family felt. I can't comprehend the magnitude of their loss.
His vigil
Soon, tributes popped up online- FB, Insta... all social media. I knew Ty was popular and amazing, but I didn't realize how many lives he'd touched and changed. I shouldn't have been surprised. People all around the world: former students, classmates from various schools, co-workers... family. HIS family. The family he created one smile at a time.
Such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be there. (Grateful Dead)
The following night was a candlelight vigil at Salt Creek beach (Dana Point, CA- south of LA) where he surfed, and a shrine created on the large rock that... I saw pictures of the vigil. So many people; so many candles; so many lives.
Ty was one of a kind. He was a beacon of optimism and, yes, kindness. This world has been around for billions of years, and may be here a lot longer, but I'm blessed to say that not only did I live at the same time as Ty, but I also had the honor of calling him "brother." The world desperately needs more people like Ty Arthur Torres, but he was one of a kind. He was one of the finest men I've ever known.
My deepest condolences to Robin, Coltrane, and his extended family.
May the four winds blow you safely home, Ty. The world is lesser without you in it.
Beautifully written. My heart goes out to you and his family.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said🙏🏼
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