12/02/2016
To Our Friends and Fellow Trojans,
It is with heavy hearts that we inform the community of the passing of our brother, Joe Paek. Joe passed away on Thursday, November 17th while battling personal complications. Although information regarding the situation has been released by the school and other media outlets, we as the brothers of Gamma Epsilon Omega wanted to help the community understand what Joe’s passing really meant to us.
We want Joe to be remembered not only as a member of Gamma Epsilon Omega, but as the wonderful and sincere person that he was. He was a writer, an intellectual, a movie critique, an American-Diner enthusiast, a Radiohead fan, and a loving friend to all who knew him.
Joe was a dependable brother who always knew how to take care of us when we needed him. If we needed someone to talk to at 4AM, he would be awake; if we needed a “pick me up” meal, he knew just where to eat; if we needed someone to jam out to a new song with, he was ready. Joe was always there for us.
Whether or not you knew Joe, what we can all learn from Joe’s life is the importance of our support for each other. As college students, it is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day struggles of academics, clubs, and social life. It is easy to let time pass without really appreciating every moment we share together during our four years on campus. However, it is in the small moments- the 4AM conversations, the spontaneous weekend adventures, the dinners shared over laughs and smiles, that we truly come to appreciate those closest to us. Joe will be always be remembered through the simple but genuine experiences we shared with him during his time at USC.
As we finish out the semester and prepare to return home to our own families, remember to cherish each and every moment you share with your loved ones, because when you wake up the next morning, you never know whether the memories of the day before will be the last ones you share together.
Sincerely and in loving memory,
The Brothers of Gamma Epsilon Omega
