Spring Break
Grad dies in Africa on Peace Corps mission
Justin Brady, a 2004 graduate, was well respected by those who knew him
Dan Traylor
Issue date: 9/25/06 Section: News
Those who knew him offer a common appraisal. He was a people person. He was smart. He was a natural leader.
Justin Brady, a 27-year-old OSU graduate from Philomath, died in a boating accident on the Niger River in Mali on Sept. 3.
Brady was in the West African nation on a Peace Corps mission, working with water sanitation in the village of Donthieribougou.
The 2004 construction engineering management graduate left a positive impression during his time at OSU.
Greg Baker, who teaches in the CEM department, remembers Brady as a strong and friendly student.
"He really was a people person and had a wealth of talent," Baker said. "And I'm sure more talent than we all realized at the time."
At Brady's funeral, several classmates were on hand to pay respect.
"I asked all of the people who were classmates to stand up," said Baker, who spoke at the funeral. "Twenty to 25 students stood up."
Those at the funeral also had a chance to see videos and photos from Brady's time in the Peace Corps, many of which are still viewable at his Web site, justinbrady.net.
"It's obvious that he continued to grow and thrive in that environment," Baker said. "It was obvious from the video we saw that people loved him."
Trevor Spires, one of Brady's classmates, also praised the CEM grad.
"He was one of the smartest guys I've ever met," he said. "He really could do anything that he put his mind to.
"He was a great people person. He could have a conversation and talk to anyone. If you look at his Web page, his pictures in Africa, and you see him interacting with the people in the village ... just from the photos, you can tell that was his strong point."
Spires said Brady was the kind of person that makes people question what they are doing with their lives.
"It was just amazing what he had done," he said. "It kind of made you feel like you should be doing more with your life."
Justin Brady, a 27-year-old OSU graduate from Philomath, died in a boating accident on the Niger River in Mali on Sept. 3.
Brady was in the West African nation on a Peace Corps mission, working with water sanitation in the village of Donthieribougou.
The 2004 construction engineering management graduate left a positive impression during his time at OSU.
Greg Baker, who teaches in the CEM department, remembers Brady as a strong and friendly student.
"He really was a people person and had a wealth of talent," Baker said. "And I'm sure more talent than we all realized at the time."
At Brady's funeral, several classmates were on hand to pay respect.
"I asked all of the people who were classmates to stand up," said Baker, who spoke at the funeral. "Twenty to 25 students stood up."
Those at the funeral also had a chance to see videos and photos from Brady's time in the Peace Corps, many of which are still viewable at his Web site, justinbrady.net.
"It's obvious that he continued to grow and thrive in that environment," Baker said. "It was obvious from the video we saw that people loved him."
Trevor Spires, one of Brady's classmates, also praised the CEM grad.
"He was one of the smartest guys I've ever met," he said. "He really could do anything that he put his mind to.
"He was a great people person. He could have a conversation and talk to anyone. If you look at his Web page, his pictures in Africa, and you see him interacting with the people in the village ... just from the photos, you can tell that was his strong point."
Spires said Brady was the kind of person that makes people question what they are doing with their lives.
"It was just amazing what he had done," he said. "It kind of made you feel like you should be doing more with your life."
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