The Brandeis community is mourning the loss of Jean Joseph Reginald "Reggie" Poyau '04, who drowned in southern Senegal Saturday night during a weekend trip with his friends to a region South of Gambia River while studying abroad. He was 21 years old. Reggie appeared to have trouble while swimming and his friends were unable to reach him in time to help before they lost sight of him in the darkness of the night. His body was found the next morning. Reggie, a political science major, was in Senegal as part of a study-abroad program through the Michigan State University. He believed that Senegal would have given him a taste of what it would feel like to be traveling and exploring a foreign culture.

"Jean Joseph Reginald Poyau was the third member of our family, but he wouldn't settle to be third in anything else," wrote Max Poyau, Reggie's brother, in an e-mail. He described Reggie as very determined.

"His departure has left a void in our family that can never be filled," he wrote.

With that thought in mind, Reggie worked very hard at everything he did to make his dreams come true, including running track, succeeding academically and fostering his relationships with his friends and family.

All of his friends agree that Reggie was always smiling and describe him as being extremely modest. "We were very close as roommates, but it took a good part of a semester for me to find out that he had been Massachusetts state champion in four running events his senior year of high school - not exactly something to be ashamed of," said David Nathan '04, Reggie's former roommate, suite mate and fellow track team member.

"Reggie was always concerned about the well being of others," Nathan said. "He would never let anyone drive home if he didn't think they would be capable of driving. He would always try to ensure that people returned home safely if not driving."

Material things did not consume Reggie. In fact, Nathan remembers that they used to joke with him that the only things he had in his room were a leather rhinoceros and a paper he wrote in high school. "Granted it was a very nice leather rhinoceros, and had I read the paper I'm sure it would have been very good. He just didn't come off as wanting more, or needing more," he said. Nathan attests that Reggie was thankful for what he had, the friends he had, and the skills he had. He would go to church on the weekends, and would never miss opportunities to spend time with his friends.

"I'm not sure how to put it, but he had a way about him that made you close to him without even trying," Luis Ramos '04 said. "He had a glowing love for life and people and always made me feel that same way when I was around him. I won't sleep another night without thinking about some of the memories we shared, but I know that he wouldn't want me or any of us to be upset or unhappy."

"Reggie was one of the best people that you could be friends with. He was funny, compassionate, caring and always supportive," said Colin Rowan '04, also his suitemate and fellow track team member.

Reggie was also well loved by his family. "In our family whenever things weren't going well, with his good-humored personality, Reggie would make things seem a whole lot better," his brother described. "Everyone who knew him remembers him as a charming, smiling kid that nothing really seemed to get to. He was just plain fun to be around him at any time."

Reggie was born on April 30, 1982 in Haiti as the third member in the Poyau family. Reggie moved to the United States with his family when he was 12-years-old. Upon arriving in the United States, already fluent in French and Creole, Reggie quickly learned English at home by watching cartoons while he was sick during his first few weeks in America. His friends describe Reggie as "an amazing learner" who had a "real passion to excel in school."

Upon coming to Brandeis, Reggie, a Brockton, Mass. resident, mastered Spanish in addition to his already impressive language abilities. Not only was Reggie an extraordinary student, he was also a great athlete. He was offered a scholarship to run track for Div. I UMASS-Amherst, but he chose to come to Brandeis instead because he felt he would get a better education here.

"In addition to being a great friend for us all, Reggie was a great teammate and his presence on the track will be truly missed. Reggie was really beginning to blossom as a college athlete and we all believed that his senior year on the team would have been his best," said Shiloh Sundstrom '04, Reggie's teammate and suitemate who is currently abroad in Kenya.

Ben Shiller '04, who was abroad in Scotland for the semester, was Reggie's fifth suitemate. All five of the suitemates and Reggie planned to live together in the fall.

The U.S. embassy is currently in the process of recovering Reggie's body to bring back to the United States for burial. Services will be held as soon as possible. For more information, student's can e-mail Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer at sawyer@brandeis.edu.