BREAKING: ATO holds vigil for member
A few hundred people came to a candlelight vigil Sunday night at the Alpha Tau Omega house for Mike Pietrzak, a 20-year-old University of Nevada, Reno student who is listed in critical condition at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.
Pietrzak suffered a head injury Saturday from an unspecified cause. After he was admitted to the hospital he underwent intensive brain surgery, said Pietrzak’s father, Mike Pietrzak.
Pietrzak’s family attended the vigil where they shared stories of him.
At least 400 candles were given to people as they gathered on the front lawn of the ATO fraternity house around 10 p.m.
Pietrzak, a general studies major at UNR, is the social chair for ATO.
As a projected image displayed on the face of the house showed a photo of Pietrzak with the words “friend, brother, son,” ATO president Christian Reviglio said he appreciated the support from friends and family.
ATO member Nathan Digangi then read a Biblical passage, John 15:13, to the crowd: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,” he said.
Digangi said ATO members are looking to each other for support.
“Lots of people on campus need a reality check,” he said. “It’s just too bad this is the way it had to come.”
During the vigil a slide show began, bringing the crowd to tears and laughter. Once the slide show was over, active ATO members gathered on the front porch to sing “Our Jewels,” one of ATO’s official songs.
Friends and family shared stories about Pietrzak afterwards.
One friend reminisced how Pietrzak wanted a bowl haircut for Halloween in order to dress up as one of the characters from “Dumb and Dumber.”
Adam Cardona, a 19-year-old ATO pledge, said Pietrzak befriended him when they met during this semester’s rush events.
“If he affected me in that way, I can only imagine how he affected other people,” Cardona said.
When the vigil ended around 10:45 p.m., Reviglio invited those who came to the vigil to come into the house to see where Pietrzak lives as well as see photos of him.
Shannon Ellis, UNR’s vice president of student life services, attended the vigil and said it was very heartfelt.
“Throughout (the vigil), you could hear the crying,” Ellis said.
Editor in chief Brian Duggan contributed to this report. Photo by Amy Beck.
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October 1st, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Mike, you’re in our thoughts and prayers, God Bless and may you have a fast recovery
October 1st, 2007 at 3:04 pm
You are in my prayers for a fast and complete recovery. Tim Griffin Worthy Master 1965
October 1st, 2007 at 7:09 pm
My prayers as well as my families prayer’s are with you and your family during this time. I pray everything turns out for the best!!! God works in mysterious ways and I pray he is at work right now!!!
L&R
Colin Donohue
Fall 2000
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:44 am
Pull Through Mikey. Be Strong and show everyone a miracle. I LOVE YOU BRO!
L&R
Ian McMenemy
Fall 2006