The Longwood University community was disheartened and shocked to learn of the death of Fitzhugh “Fitz” Gordon Samuel on Dec. 3. Samuel was a senior theatre major from Falls Church, Va.
Students, faculty and staff were notified by an email from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs that stated, “Longwood Police are investigating an incident at Lancer Park that occurred sometime before 8:25 a.m. today, Wednesday, December 3, at Lancer Park.”
On Dec. 11, the Longwood community collected in the courtyard between the Center for Communication Studies and Theatre for a candlelit vigil where students, faculty and staff spoke on memories of Samuel.
The event began at 6 p.m. and ended with a light reception in Bedford Hall.
Alpha Psi Omega (APO), honorary theatre fraternity, and the Longwood Theatre Department organized the event and provided a white board at the event where guests wrote messages or memories of Samuel.
President of APO Caroline Villarreal and Vice President of APO Emily Stern headed the planning for the event.
Speakers for the event included Program Director of Theatre Gene Muto, Theatre student Matthew Brehm, Theatre student Kenneth Hopkins, Theatre student Jeremy Greene, Assistant Professor of Theatre Leslie Cook-Day, Theatre student Katie Lowenhagen, Theatre student Jaclyn Siewert and President W. Taylor Reveley IV.
Students passed out black ribbons and pins to guests. Googly eyes were attached to personalize the ribbons in remembrance of Samuel.
Muto opened the ceremony, saying, “The term ‘family’ is greatly overused these days, but the Theatre students redefine the concept. It is their resilience, their strength and their faith that assure us [of] the hope and the rectitude of the next generation.”
Muto added, “What a privilege to have known Fitz, and what a privilege to be at least in some small fashion a part of your lives.”
Brehm said, “There is a place in our building that seems strangely empty now that our friend is gone.”
Brehm shared a message given to him by Samuel. He recounted asking Samuel, “When does our call end, Fitz?” to which Samuel replied, “When the job is done.”
Brehm said, “I firmly believe that we are put on this earth with a job to do, and that the fulfillment of that job is something that will take an entire lifetime.”
“From what I discovered about him in the few scant months that I shared a home with him is that he would never inconvenience anyone if he could avoid it. We must go on in memory of him,” said Brehm.
Hopkins noted that he was Samuel’s roommate, classmate and friend.
He said, “Fitz was truly a keystone to all that he knew. We love him, and we will truly miss him.
Greene said, “Fitzhugh Samuel was a good man, he was a wonderful technician and he was my best friend. Fitz was one of the smartest people that I will ever know.”
Greene shared anecdotes as students, playing table-top board games and video games, watching movies and more.
Greene added, “I could never have asked for a better best friend.”
Cook-Day said, “It is hard enough to say goodbye at graduation. Even as you go to beautiful and brilliant things, it is still more difficult to face a more lasting farewell, but though we are heartbroken, we are not broken in spirit. We grieve and find it hard to concentrate at times, but we find it easy to remember and show each other compassion and empathy, and this is what we will take forward with us, this kindness, this love, plain patterns and quiet laughter and bonds that will make memories between us stronger.”
Before the candles were lit for the vigil, Cook-Day quoted Laura Moncur, saying, “Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: You do not give up.”
Lowenhagen spoke as though Samuel was there, saying, “You’re one of the best, unique, amazing people that have ever walked into my life.”
She said, “You taught me what it was like to be a best friend because you were the greatest friend I could have ever asked for. You taught me every day was special and to hold on to the ones that you love, but to hold closer to the ones that love you.”
Siewert referred to Samuel as her best friend, later adding, “He was a fierce friend.”
She went on to describe moments that proved his humor and his kindness.
Siewert said, “He was the person I could always lean on and go to for advice. Fitz, to me, was essentially a light. He was bright and full of energy, and if there was any darkness amongst his peers, he would share all his friendly kindness and brighten their day.”
Sharing an anecdote with Samuel from sophomore year, Siewert said that she learned of a secret of his.
“His secret was that he was afraid that when he died that he wouldn’t be mourned properly,” she said.
She added, “As I look into this crowd and see all the love and support here for him, I know he had nothing to worry about.”
“I miss you, my friend,” Siewert said.
Reveley shared some words from Samuel’s parents, saying how Longwood University is “such a great school,” and that Longwood was Samuel’s first and only college choice after graduating from high school.
After the vigil, Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tim Pierson commented, “I’m always impressed at the quality of relationships that students develop with each other, that they develop with faculty, that they develop with Longwood.”
Throughout the week preceding the event, students, faculty and staff were advised to contact Longwood Counseling Center.
Director of Longwood Counseling Center Dr. Maureen Walls-McKay commented, “What we really love about Longwood is that students gather together ... and that says a lot about the community.”
Almost a week earlier, the Farmville United Methodist Church hosted an annual bereavement service, titled, “Love Lights a Candle.”
The church was open to the public starting at 9 a.m. The service began at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Reverend Michael Kendall led the program, acknowledging the death of Samuel, saying, “We grieve for each of you ... who have been a part of this week’s events.”
Catholic Campus Minister Bob Zupanek said, “I know that in response to these types of instances, community is the best place to be.”
The cause of Samuel’s death has not yet been made public.
