In Loving Memory of Buddha

Yesterday, the world lost someone truly special. A friend, a brother, and a light in so many people’s lives. Buddha passed away while driving his Supra, doing something he loved, and it still doesn’t feel real.

If you ever had the chance to know him, you know exactly what kind of person he was. He had a heart that never ran out of room for people. He could make you laugh even on your worst days and had this way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and cared for. He was the one who’d drop everything to help a friend, no questions asked, because that’s just who he was — loyal, genuine, and full of life.

Waking up to the news of his passing felt like getting the wind knocked out of us. You don’t realize how much someone means until they’re gone, and Buddha meant a lot to all of us. I’ve lost friends before, both in the military and after, but this one hit in a way that words can’t really explain. It’s a pain that sits deep.

What hurts the most is knowing he leaves behind his little boy — his pride, his reason, his everything. That child was his whole heart, and everything Buddha did was with him in mind. He also leaves behind the love of his life, Portia, and a family that’s now left trying to piece life together without him.

This GoFundMe is being created to help them through this heartbreaking time. To help with funeral costs, memorial arrangements, and to make sure his son is cared for in the way Buddha would have wanted. No amount of money can replace him, but every bit helps carry the weight that his family shouldn’t have to bear alone.

Please keep his son, Portia, and their entire family in your prayers. Pray for comfort, strength, and peace in the middle of something that feels impossible to understand.

He was one of those rare souls that leave a mark on everyone they meet, and that mark will never fade. His laughter, his love, and his heart will live on through every life he touched.

Rest easy, Buddha. You were loved more than you’ll ever know. And we’ll keep your memory alive, always.