By Kaela Bazard and Monir Khilla—

Music, pictures, and singing; this wasn’t an on-campus party or Student Government Organization event, but a candlelight memorial service for Javier “Bam Bam” Hernandez, a fallen Founding Brother of the Areyto chapter of Lambda Sigma Upsilon (LSU) fraternity.

Hernandez passed away a week prior on September 17 in a tragic car accident in Tallahassee, Florida at the age of 38.

The hour long September 24 memorial was held on the steps of the Frank J. Guarini Library where roughly 100 students, alumni, staff, and friends gathered around Hernandez’s picture and honored his life.

“He was one that was giving to everybody,” said Richard Vaca, an NJCU Alumni and fellow Founding Brother at the memorial service. “You did not need to be a brother for him to basically give you a warm welcome and a helping hand”

Hernandez’s sense of humor was one of a “Typical Puerto Rican and Dominican,” smiled John Padilla an NJCU Alumni.

“He said everything a Puerto Rican said and everything a Dominican said. He complimented both Dominicans and Puerto Ricans very well,” said Padilla.

Padilla played an integral role and helped with the establishing of the LSU fraternity at NJCU. “I was his Cacique,” said Padilla. Cacique is the Spanish and Taino word for chieftain. The cultural identity symbol of the LSU fraternity is the Taino Indian.

Hernandez was a “Great guy, biggest guy you’ll ever see, but he was very humble,” said Padilla.

A week after Hernandez’s passing; his fellow line brothers called and used social media to spread the word

“The undergrads took leadership and went to the school and got Alumni involved,” said Padilla. They’ve been “Nothing but extremely helpful.”

Padilla noticed that the memorial had reunited him with “Brothers from all different decades, some I haven’t seen in years.”

The memorial began with a message from John Melendez, Vice President of Student Affairs. Melendez was the first advisor to the chapter.

“I’m happy to be here to represent the University and to thank everyone here who supported each other during this experience. I met Javier years ago, I remember him as everyone described, ‘a gentle giant,’” said Melendez after the memorial.

Hernandez was very dedicated to founding the Areyto chapter of LSU.

“He played a large role in the development of the fraternity,” said Vaca. “He initiated a lot of communication between the student body and the administration to get the chapter recognized. He was one of the liaisons between the administration and the fraternity. He started it [the chapter] when he was a sophomore”

Teofilo “Teddy” Moreno, NJCU Alumni and Founding Brother, remembered Hernandez as, “Humble, simplistic, very reliable, [and] had a big heart.”

Unfortunately Hernandez had to leave NJCU as a Junior because, “His parents passed away. He was the older brother, so he had to take care of his family,” said Moreno.

Many of the younger members never got the chance to meet Hernandez, but still felt his impact on the chapter.

“I heard a lot about him, but didn’t get to meet him” said George Garcia, 21, National Security major, from Jersey City.

Garcia is the current president of the Areyto chapter of LSU at NJCU.

“Lots of people say my personality resembles him,” Garcia said.

Garcia said he loved the candlelight vigil because he “Got an insight on who he was; his personality, how he treated brothers and sister, his loyalty and honesty to the fraternity.”

Manuel Castaneda, a Rutgers Alumni who has known Hernandez for almost 20 years, sang “Dust in the Wind,” originally by Kansas.

“I think the song represented the way he passed, one minute we’re here, one minute we’re not.,” said Castaneda.

Raymond Dela-Torre, the national president of LSU, was also in attendance and was most touched by Castaneda’s rendition.

“I’m sure his face would have been red to have a brother sing a song about him,” said Dela-Torre.

Jalynne Jordan, 20, Undecided, Jersey City and a member of LSU’s sister sorority, Mu Sigma Upsilon (MSU), personally didn’t know Hernandez, “But just seeing the connection made me happy because we are part of something where we are all really together and we can all come together to do something meaningful.”

Victor Breton, 20, Fire Science major, Perth Amboy thought the turnout was “beautiful” and that they raised $6,000 for Hernandez’s siblings.

After Hernandez’s father passed away, “Then his mom passed away years later, so the money would help out his three siblings,” said Breton

Breton said that, “I just wanted to say that he was a big impact on me. I never met him, but he was a part of my fraternity. He left a big impact on the people that impacted me. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be wearing these letters.”