By: Nicole Kessler
The Quinnipiac University community mourns the loss of Nathan Orsini, a member of the Class of 2017, who passed away Tuesday morning after a yearlong battle with brain cancer.
He will forever be remembered for his constant positivity, radiant smile, humorous personality, selflessness, kindness, resilience, and fierce determination to beat cancer.
“He was easily the greatest person I have ever known. I think everyone should strive to be a little bit like Nathan. He was truly the meaning of a great friend,” one of Nathan’s best friends, junior Ali Hashaum, said.
Nathan’s Facebook page is flooded with overwhelming and moving memories, stories, and condolence messages. He touched everyone who he came in contact with.
Nathan’s father, Dan Orsini, has a request for everyone who Nathan crossed paths with.
“We truly appreciate all of the lovely words… If you have pictures of you and our boy. Please post them or send them or share them. One thing we have learned over the last year is just how many people shared wonderful memories with Nathan and we ask if you can share those memories with us,” his father said.
In his short time at Quinnipiac, he left a mark. He was able to impact the community and become involved on campus as a member of Q30 Television’s Sports Paws and the Honors Program. He also enjoyed university sponsored events.
For Sports Paws, Nathan’s last package recapped the men’s soccer team’s 2-0 victory over Columbia, something Nathan had a strong passion for. The package aired on the September 23, 2014 episode. This was his first time creating a news package. Below is his work.
“Nate’s humor and intelligence often brought our community together for a laugh, or a thoughtful moment, or a new way of seeing things, and he did this in classes, at our honors retreat, and at events like Relay for Life. He could be very entertaining, but usually while he was doing that he also was pushing us to see things in a unique way,” Director of the University Honors Program, Kathy Cooke, said.
Meaghan Goode, a member of the honors program said, “On the honors retreat freshman year I don’t think anyone will forget him getting the nickname “Naked Nathan” after the toilet paper “fashion contest.”
Nathan was not officially enrolled in school this past year, but was on campus during the 2015 Relay for Life walk where he was the speaker for the opening ceremony.
He was diagnosed sophomore year on November 11, 2014, which was the day of his 20th birthday. The diagnosis was Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), which is a rare and inoperable form of brain cancer.
During his speech Nathan said, “My next birthday is two months from today (September 11) and I plan on being there for my first drink.” His strength and determination allowed for this to become true. His friends and family threw him a surprise birthday party where he took his first legal drink.
He documented this day through his blog “Inoperable.” Along with many other days he wrote about his journey keeping friends and family updated. Whether he was going to radiation, chemo, or watching Netflix he stayed positive and never dwelled on his situation
“He never wanted to be remembered as a “sufferer” or a “cancer patient,” one of Nathan’s friends, Jess Paciello, said. “His smile and his laughter will live through all of us and carry us through each day.”
