In Loving Memory of Seth Williams

Seth Williams was a J.N. Andrews Honors scholar who graduated last May with his biology (biomedical concentration) degree. But before any of those titles, Seth was a dear friend, brother, and son to his family members and many people who met him in his personal life—whether that be at Andrews University or beyond. Some of those individuals have shared some of  their memories of Seth. To everyone who is feeling pain and loss, we hope this article will help you process that feeling by reflecting on the life of Seth—a life filled with passion, kindness, humor, and compassion. And if you would like to, please visit this website and share your memories of him.

“I remember Seth as a very dear, incredibly kind, polite, and respectful young scholar. I’m devastated by his death. He was a light of kindness in his every interaction. Ms. Maxine and I remember that whenever he would come into the Honors Office for tea, he would stop, chat, and take time to check up on how we were doing. He readily volunteered to help in our Honors service project for the Harbor of Hope Church and was a joyful presence on many Honors cultural outings. After Covid disrupted our lives substantially, I witnessed his quiet acts of kindness on many occasions. Seth’s personal losses only made him more attuned to the needs of those around him. We have lost a good human. I pray that we can daily practice the acts of love that will honor his example. He will be greatly missed.” 
Dr. L.  Monique Pittman, Director of Honors Program

“I knew Seth from Quant lab, where we talked in the chemistry reading room before or after every lab. It was often [regarding] something very silly and outlandish [in terms of] what we would do for the lab that day. Sometimes, it was about lab analysis, and sometimes it was about venting our frustrations of the busy semester. But he always made me laugh whenever we met, always having a joke to spare. During that semester, I learned more about Seth, and we planned to someday meet in Texas and eat BBQ together. While our time together was short, I am forever grateful that I was able to meet Seth.”
Jongwan Bae (senior, biochemistry)

“Seth was a kind and thoughtful student that will always have a special place in my heart.  Seth was an Honors student in my research group, and we had many conversations about science, research, life goals, and our families. When we both lost our mothers in the fall of 2021, he bought me a card and a flower and had them sitting in my office when I returned from grieving with my family.  I was touched by his kindness and moved by the thoughtfulness of such a mature student.  Honestly, he did more for me than I did for him.  But, it was that conversation afterwards where we shared the details of our mother’s passing that knitted us together in a deeper way than academics alone could ever do.”
Ryan Hayes, Professor of Chemistry

“After his first semester of Foundations of Biology, Seth stopped by to express appreciation for the class.  To say thank you, he gave me a small plaque that reads, ‘Teachers are neuron gardeners!’ I have kept this plaque on my desk ever since: it captures well the role of a teacher and illustrates to me Seth’s thoughtfulness and kindness, attributes I observed often in our interactions.”
Dr. Tom Goodwin, Professor of Biology

“​​I remember clearly my last conversation with Seth Williams. He had come to submit his Honors Thesis. I expressed how happy I was to see him more often in his senior year and the opportunities to have conversations together. He went on to thank me as well for taking the time to talk with him and for the help I had offered in completing his Honors Thesis research. Just before he departed, I took the opportunity to ask what his post-undergraduate plans were; he had shared with me his plans to begin his master's degree in Texas. Then he walked out of the Honors Office for the last time. I am grateful to have had such a lovely final conversation with one another as he looked and felt optimistic about his future.”
Ms. Umana Maxine, Honors Administrative Assistant

“You (Seth) left a lasting impression on me, not only with your stainless steel water bottle, decorous shirt, and classic old fashioned glasses, but also with your intelligent mind, brilliant observation skills, and pleasant characteristics. We sat in the same [row] in the Foundations of Biology class on the first day and kept the same seat for the rest of the semester. Sometimes we came up with different answers with our remote controls and debated them. However, your quick reflection skills and excellent comprehension abilities often convinced me, and we ended up with the correct answer. FB was never boring with you, and neither was our ecology class. We shared the same tent in the moist forests in Cuba, explored the Cueva de Ambrosio bat cave at Varadero, and dived into the spectacular Guanahacabibes Peninsula. These memories will always stay with me.”
Hugo Qin, Class of 2022 (biology)

“Some memories of Seth are from last year when he took general physics, and I TA’d that class. He and I were already friends from the honors classes we’d taken together. I always looked forward to those classes because he always made funny jokes or was really personable when interacting with anyone. He lit up the classroom, even though physics wasn’t his favorite class. Also, he worked as an assistant for my mom (she’s the chemistry department administrative assistant), so he and I spent some fun times visiting her office. He had a great sense of humor and I loved talking with him about whatever was going on with his life. He was always willing to help me when anything came up and was so incredibly talented at everything he tried. It really hurts to think about him being gone, and I wish that we had been closer friends. He had such a great positive impact on my undergraduate life, and I wish our paths had crossed more.”
Lisa Johnston, Class of 2022 (mathematics and physics)

"Seth always had a casual attitude towards life. He could laugh at anything, even under stress. He never took himself too seriously. It made everyone around him more light-hearted."
Andras Muranyi, Class of 2022 (biology)

“One fond memory I have of Seth actually happened my freshman year. I had recently been looking to make some new friends and was keeping my eyes open for opportunities to get to know new people. One day, I walked into the café for dinner and saw Seth and Andras eating at a booth together. I decided to join them, and they gladly welcomed me. I recognized them from Western Heritage because they both sat right in front of me. As I joined them, they immediately included me in their conversation. Although I don’t remember exactly what we talked about, I felt drawn to be with them. I realized, however, that at that time, I didn’t know their names. As they shared, I misheard Andras’s name. I asked that he repeat it. Without missing a beat, Seth stated that the name I missed was Gary. And when neither corrected me, I promptly called ‘Gary’ and Seth every time I was in class…for months. It was a running joke until one day, Dr. Corredera called on Andras to answer a question and the truth was out. We all had a good laugh about my blunder, and for years I always teased them about my mistake. Seth had a pleasant sense of humor and infectious laugh. In addition, his intelligence blew me away. After returning from Germany, I ran into Seth at Baguette and I discovered that he spoke German fluently. We had a fun conversation exclusively in German. Though I will miss him, I will never forget the impact he had on my life, welcoming me in as a friend.”
Christina Stowell (senior, psychology)

“Dear Seth,
Remember when we crammed a bunch of guys in our dorm room to watch a Bollywood movie? I think it was Putung who hijacked your TV and recommended Chennai Express. I was rolling my eyes the entire time but it was frickin hilarious. Thanks for putting up with Gabe, Watson, and me when they’d come over and have a watch party. I wish we could watch one more Bollywood movie together.”
Jonathan Homan, Class of 2022 (mathematics and physics)

“One of my most memorable times with Seth was helping him learn how to use a chemistry instrument for his research. This instrument can be complicated, especially for a first-time user. I showed Seth how to prepare his samples, start the program, and analyze his samples, after which I asked him if he wanted to try it for himself. He was nervous—understandably. Nevertheless, he brushed these nerves aside and repeated the steps I had taken, not hesitating to ask for reminders as he learned. Seth practiced for several hours until he was operating smoothly without my aid. He promptly applied this newly gained skill to his honors thesis, and I would regularly see him in Halenz Hall Room 123 working on the project.

In honor of that memory, I read Seth’s honors thesis today. As I read through the pages of his writing, I absorbed Seth’s passion for his research and reminisced about his persistence in learning new skills, despite their initial challenges. Seth was driven to understand the world a little bit better every day, a collective pursuit of knowledge that we call science. Seth’s devotion to learning embodies the spirit of that pursuit, and I will forever remember his passion for science as I, too, share that endeavor with him.”
Aaron Jacobs, Class of 2021 (chemistry)


“Seth in my life was a bit like basil.

When you first taste basil by itself, it seldom blows you away. I remember the first time I met Seth, I thought he was a very peculiar person. I did not expect him to become a dear friend, yet that very peculiarity would draw me in.

Basil is seldom a rock-star flavor like salt, lemon, or pepper; it prefers subtlety, rounding out and enriching the flavors of your meal without commanding your attention. Throughout college, Seth was a constant and comforting figure in my life. He was the sort of person who was content just being in the room with you, both doing your own things. So often he would be in the room, just looking at his phone while I did whatever and, without saying anything, would comfort and make the world feel less lonely. Even when we didn’t have the time to hang out much together, whether he was sitting next to me in class or living on the other side of the suite, I knew he cared and had my back.

Once you really get to know and appreciate the taste of basil, you’ll really enjoy it in your food and frequently add it when you cook. I’ll always remember and love Seth’s off-beat and chaotic sense of humor. You truly never knew what to expect from him. Sometimes he would drop a 5 lb bag of candy on your desk and tell you to eat it; other times he would invite you to go with him to visit the local Morman tabernacle. I always loved when, while hanging out with our friends, after being quiet for most of the hour, Seth would jump in with an unexpected joke that would leave the group laughing. As I have been grieving his loss, one of the greatest comforts to me during this time has been remembering Seth’s humor and thinking about how he would be able to make light of even this dark situation.

Even so, basil has its moments where it really shines, like in a lovely pesto. Seth was a great friend, the sort of friend I hope everyone has the experience of having. I remember once I called him late at night and asked him to pick me up from the South Bend Airport and take me back to Andrews. In minutes, he was driving towards me and even brought cookies he made himself. He was always down to hang out and have fun, and you could always count on him when you needed a hand. I could fill page upon page with the kind things he has done for me, his many endearing quirks, and the great memories shared together. He truly added joy to my life linearly independent from the joy anyone else has contributed to my life.

The thought of never tasting basil again is sad; the thought of never having Seth in my life again rends my heart.”

Reise Campbell, Class of 2022 (computer science, mathematics, and religion)