Twenty-three-year-old UB graduate Aaron J. Coonick of Endicott, N.Y., passed away while vacationing with friends in Florida on March 3.
According to the Binghamton Press, Coonick drowned after being pushed from a dock outside Cactus Jack's Bar in Key Largo, Fla., shortly after midnight.
Officials ruled his death a result of horseplay, but family members say they are investigating the incident further.
Coonick is survived by his father and mother, Thomas and Juliene, his brother Thomas and his sister Melissa.
According to Thomas, Coonick's older brother, Coonick received his bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting in January 2003. Thomas described Aaron as a focused and independent man who dedicated himself fully to whatever activity he undertook, from baseball to home improvement to protecting the environment.
"I wish that I can accomplish in my 32 years what he's already accomplished in his 23," Thomas said. "He's inspired a lot of people to exceed their potential."
Patrick Barczys, a senior media study major, forged a close friendship with Coonick in the time they spent working the golf course at the Country Club of Buffalo.
"With Aaron, hot grueling jobs were transformed into perfect summer days," Barczys said. "It would just be him and I all day at the country club so we would spend the whole day raking bunkers. We would just hang out and talk the whole time."
Barczys said Coonick made sure to put his family first and was always available to simply hang out with friends.
"Everyone Aaron met immediately felt his gentle, caring personality. It seems Aaron had accomplished what many never do, to simplify life into what's important - family and friends," Barczys said.
According to Thomas, Coonick was a family man who stayed in close contact with his brother despite the fact that he lived in Buffalo, while his brother was in New York City.
"We had a fantastic relationship," Thomas Coonick said. "He spent a lot of time in the city visiting me. I spent a lot of time in Buffalo."
"He has two beautiful nieces, Karlie who's three and Mackenzie who's seven, who were just the apples in his eye," said Tom. "He just adored the two of them so much."
According to Thomas Coonick, Aaron dated his high school sweetheart Sara Clark, now a kindergarten teacher in Endicott, for more than seven years. Barczys said Aaron had recently taken up acoustic guitar and was an avid fan of musician Jack Johnson, whose lyrics exemplified Aaron's outlook on life.
"He's the most responsible kid I've ever met in my life - very respectful, very classy. I don't know of a single enemy he had," said Thomas. "It made no difference to him what kind of person you were. He loved all people from all walks of life."
"We will miss you Aaron," said Barczys. "Thanks for everything you have given us."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
