This is off my usual topics and off lawyers but I was moved by reading Richard Ruelas’ profile of the late 20 year old Bryce Gillies in Sunday’s Arizona Republic. Gillies was an engineering student at Northern Arizona University and had just completed a volunteer stint in Ghana with “Engineers without borders.”
An experienced hiker and Eagle Scout, Gillies was one of 12 people who died at the Grand Canyon in 2009. He succumbed to heat stroke and dehydration on a hot July day in the Canyon.
In his short 20 years, Gillies followed Thoreau’s precepts, he lived deep and sucked out all the marrow of life. Indeed, in many ways, Gillies lived more in 20 years than some do in 3 or 4 times the life span they’re given. He leaves a powerful testament to the power of a life well-spent.
In one of his final messages left behind on his smart phone, Gillies wrote, “Life is good whether it is long or short.”
Read Richard Ruelas’ story in The Arizona Republic at Wrong turn led to Eagle Scout’s death.
I just wanted to say thank you for your Posting about Bryce. He was a blessing to others, and we miss him every day. Warna Gillies
Warna,
Words are inadequate to capture your loss and such profound sorrow. Please accept my sincere condolences. Mo
To Bryce’s Family & Friends.
I wanted to express condolences from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t know Bryce but I feel like i know him. I did read his story last year and wrote down one of his quotes that reached out to me.
Recently I was scuba diving and almost had a fatal accident, as it were. I got to came back. How right Bryce is when he said “I feel like going into the wild is a calling all feel, some answer, some die for”
RIP Bryce