The news about 22-year-old Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart shook the baseball world Thursday. We tend to put our athletes, movie stars and other celebrities up on a pedestal. It’s almost as if we value their lives against a different metric than our own. That’s exactly why the news focused around Adenhart was so surreal. After all, we just watched him pitch last night, looking like the epitome of virility.
But, tragically there were two other young lives lost early Thursday morning in
Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of
Hank, who was celebrating his friend’s fourth big league start, was an aspiring sports agent. In fact he had already gained a few clients while he was attending Western State University College of Law. He was set to graduate next year.
I had the pleasure of going to college with Hank at
It was in the studio and in the editing rooms of the Walter Cronkite Building that I came to appreciate Hank’s work ethic, professionalism, intelligence and drive. And though he was a couple years younger than me I respected his focus and maturity. But it was away from the pressures (or what at the time we believed to be pressures), of school, extra-curricular student broadcasting and the over-hanging worries of actually finding a job where I got to know a happy, genuine, and smart human being.
There aren’t enough people on this planet who fit that description. And the fact that we seem to lose an aberrant amount of them keeps some of us from getting to that jovial state ourselves.
Truly, the hardest part, like any accident, is the fact it was an accident. The sudden finality is impossible to fathom, and it manufactures anger, rage, gloom and heartbreak. But it also reminds you of the memories and how they were formed.
I know Gallo didn’t go out Wednesday looking to kill three people and put his own life at risk. But he didn’t try not to, either.
Our public’s consumption and accepted misuse of alcohol is a topic more worthy of an entirely new branch of government than a simple column here. But the marriage between alcohol and sports is an unhealthy one, and I’ll leave at that. It is hard for me, at least today, as a friend, to see the difference between someone who commits a premeditated murder, and someone who consciously decides to put himself and others in grave danger as a direct result of his own actions. Is there a difference at all? Right now I’m not sure there is.
Nick Adenhart, along with Stewart and Henry for that matter, won’t ever realize the potential of the natural gifts they were blessed with. We sadly won’t be able to watch these young people progress, mature and realize their own dreams. Perhaps the only thing we can do is take this painful reminder as a not-so-subtle hint that our time on this Earth is not certain, guaranteed or even going to end happily. But by knowing this hopefully we can enjoy the stay a little bit more.
Hank, I'm glad I knew you, and can call you a friend. You will be missed terribly by many.
Please read this very touching tribute by a man who knew Hank far better than I, Matt Clapp
Comments
Nice tribute, Theo. Yes, there are three families and three sets of friends who are grieving.
As a long time Angels fan I was shocked and saddened by the news yesterday. Then I read in the paper this morning that two of the crash victims, including your friend Hank, were from my hometown of Manhattan Beach. Thanks Theo for more background on these young people who had so much promise ahead of them. So sad to see their lives cut short in such a senseless way.
This is a great piece and a heartfelt way to remember everyone that was victim to this tragedy.
Hi there. Thank you for writing this article and helping us remember those who were lost. I am the performing arts examiner for LA and graduated high school with Henry. I'm glad you could honor his memory here.
Theo - thank you for the wonderful article. As a friend of Henry's, your words are greatly appreciated. He will be missed.
Great piece Theo - As a former Sun Devil who worked with Henry it's great to see someone who knew him write something so amazing.
Theo, this is a beautiful tribute to Henry. The words written are so true and have made me think of all of the wonderful memories I have of him. Thank you.
Thank you so much for recognizing Henry. His ASU family misses him tremendously and is deeply sadden and angry that his life was cut so short. Henry, you were an amazing person with so much in front of you. You will be in our thoughts and prayers every day.
Fantastic article Theo. I'm an Angel fan and was shocked and saddened when I first heard this story. It home even harder when I learned that Henry grew up with my friends in Manhttan Beach, and went to ASU at the same time I did. I was also in the Cronkite School. It is so tragic that one person's stupid, selfish actions took away the lives of three promising, innocent young people. Thank you for writing this article and sharing more about your friend Hank. My prayers and thoughts are with you and everyone else who knew Henry, Courtney and Nick, and for Jon Wilhite to pull through.
Henry was well-liked in law school, too. I am so sad that so many in the local community will have been hurt by the selfishness of one individual.
I've only known Henry for 2 summers, but he made a huge impression on me. I can't think of a kinder, funnier, brighter more dynamic person. Thank you for putting this piece out there Theo. I don't think I can fathom the pain that you, his friends and especially his family must be feeling because I know what he was to all of you. I hope the family's of all these victims can find peace. It breaks my heart that Henry has been taken from us too soon.
Theo--I woke up this morning to the shocking discovery that the "others in the vehicle" with Adenhart included a kid that I taught in freshman Geography over a decade ago. He was an exceptionally likeable kid, who from all reports had become an exceptionally likeable adult. Willhite was a good young man as well, I had the good fortune of seeing them both during their high school years. Great athletes, great kids.
Gallo is being charged with murder. As well he should. For every day the Pearsons, Adenharts, and Stewarts are without their children, this guy should be denied any blessings of freedom.
Thank you for this tribute. I can't be certain, but I believe Henry worked for Cox Media as an Intern while attending the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. If that is the case, I know that there are many at Cox Media that are feeling the loss of Henry. My heart goes out to Henry's family, and his family he left behind at ASU and Cox Media.
What an absolutely beautiful tribute to your friend. You found a way to put it all so eloquently. I knew no one involved, yet my heart goes out to those who loved them. Many articles did a poor job of covering all of those who were involved. After reading this, I felt as if I knew him. What a beautiful person.
Henry was an paid intern at Cox Media while he was a student at ASU.
We were all shocked at the news of his death and on Friday we shared memories of our time with him.
He was a brite and talented young man and was excited to go to law school to follow his dream to be a sports agent.
We were all very luck to have spent time with him and our lives have been touched.Thank you for a wonderful article about a special man,friend,co-worker and ASU SUN DEVIL.
thank you for this beautiful tribute. i think that whoever henry knew he was able to touch their life in some way, whether they knew him for just a day or many more, he had a special light about him that is rare to find. Henry will be missed tremendously by all. My heart is with the Pearsons as well as the other families through this difficult time.
Theo, thank you so much for such a wonderful tribute to one of my best friends. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Henry since we were 7 years old. This world was robbed of a person that has given so much to this world, yet had so much more to give. As you mentioned he has touched so many lives, and it's a shame that he did not have the opportunity to touch so many more. His friends and family were his passion, and anytime a person of this character is lost, it's a sad day. You have done a fantastic job of putting to words who Henry was and what he stood for. Thank you!
beautiful words. my heart and thoughts and prayers are with the pearson family...i love you jessica and i'm here for you. i am so sorry for your loss. he is with the angel's now. love you ~cat
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