Honoring Lucas Colombo ’27: A Light That Shines On

A Night of Remembrance: Students Gather in Candlelight to Celebrate Lucas’ Life

On May 1, more than 250 students gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor Lucas Colombo ’27, a beloved friend, classmate, and member of the Soka community who passed away the week before on April 25.

What began as a solemn gathering gradually transformed into a heartfelt celebration of Lucas’ spirit, full of stories that reflected his joy, humor, and ability to bring people together. Dozens of students shared memories, tears, and laughter. What emerged from their stories was unmistakable: Lucas was pure joy in motion. Whether dancing samba, making people laugh, or flashing his indelible smile, he had a gift for connecting with others on a deeply human level.

During the vigil, students also watched a translated portion of the speech Lucas’ mother Jucimara Colombo delivered at his seventh-day memorial service in Brazil. Her words offered both comfort and inspiration. “He is the happiest person I know,” she said. “Because he accomplished everything … everything he thought of doing in life.” As she spoke of the dreams Lucas fulfilled and his friendships with people in every corner of the globe, Ms. Colombo assured everyone that he had accomplished his mission in life. “He has many friends,” she said. “He is a friend to the whole world.”

The photos below capture the heartfelt moments of the vigil, where students came together to honor the joy Lucas brought into their lives.

A Celebration of Life: SUA Community Honors Lucas in Memorial Ceremony

In an unforgettable memorial at the Soka Performing Arts Center nearly two weeks later on May 13, the SUA community came together to celebrate Lucas’ life.

The ceremony began with a warm welcome from MC Julia Miygawa Braga ’25, who reminded attendees that the name Lucas means “to shine” or “bring light,” a fitting reflection for someone whose energy illuminated and uplifted everyone around him.

Following the welcome, Dean of Students Hyon Moon extended heartfelt condolences to the Colombo family on behalf of the university. What she remembered most about Lucas, Moon said, was his genuine excitement to be part of the SUA community. She thanked Ms. Colombo “for showing everyone at SUA what it means to lead a life of Soka in which we can create value under any circumstances,” and then led a moment of silence.

Jun Sawada ’26, who had been Lucas’ classmate at Colegio Soka do Brasil since middle school, introduced a short film Lucas produced, an atmospheric love letter to New York City set to a Brazilian hip-hop track. After vowing to create art that uplifts others in honor of his late friend, he performed one of Lucas’ original verses in Portuguese, delivering a heartfelt tribute through music and poetry.

Members of BRASA, the SUA Brazilian Student Association, joined with several of Lucas’ friends for a spirited performance of Jorge Ben Jor’s “O Telefone Tocou Novamente.” Dressed in outfits inspired by Lucas’ vibrant style, they lit up the stage and filled the PAC with contagious joy. “For the Brazilian community at SUA,” said Vitória Souza e Robles ’25, “Lucas’ presence meant enjoying life and laughing nonstop.”

Sam Morales, associate director of production and digital media, offered a moving tribute to Lucas before introducing a video created by Sawada ’26 and Giulia Pinto ’24, featuring stories and reflections from fellow students. The video highlighted Lucas’ selflessness, humor, and friendship, capturing how deeply he was loved.

A series of student speakers then shared personal stories that further illuminated Lucas’ character. Together, their reflections portrayed a young man who lived each moment to the fullest; who constantly checked in on others and truly cared; and who moved seamlessly across artistic mediums to express meaning and love. Each speaker promised to carry Lucas’ light with them — now and always — as they move forward.

Lucas’ mother and her two surviving sons, Gabriel and Alexandre, traveled from Rio de Janeiro to deliver a powerful and uplifting tribute to her youngest. With a radiant smile, she pledged “to become the happiest person in the world” and to dedicate her life to creating a more humanistic world with Lucas in her heart. She recalled how Lucas had always been surrounded by music, constantly singing and dancing since he was a young boy. In that same joyful spirit the Colombos performed a samba song to celebrate his life.

SUA President Ed Feasel then shared warm memories of Lucas, recalling their first meeting in 2018 when Lucas was a ninth grader, and later, their more recent conversations during one-on-one meetings with members of the Class of 2027. In an emotional conclusion, Feasel posthumously awarded Lucas a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, with a concentration in Humanities. His mother and brothers received the degree on his behalf.

The memorial concluded with a resounding Josho Taiko performance, the steady rhythm of the drums honoring Lucas’ memory and reflecting the strength, cheer, and hope he brought to those around him.

The following images reflect the spirit of the memorial ceremony, an afternoon of music, memory, and love that celebrated Lucas’ profound and enduring impact on the SUA community.