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Honoring the life of Ethan Van Bochoven

Honoring the life of Ethan Van Bochoven (June 4, 1996 - October 12, 2018)

By Danielle Ran '06, director of communications  

Ethan Van Bochoven

On Sunday, Oct. 14, Messiah College held a time of remembrance and prayer to honor the life of Ethan Van Bochoven, a senior music major who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 12. More than 500 students, employees and community members attended the service in the College’s High Center for Worship and Performing Arts to remember the impact that he had on the lives of the Messiah College community.

Worship Pastor Doug Curry, President Kim Phipps and Van Bochoven’s faculty advisor, Tim Dixon, co-chair of the Department of Music, remembered him through personal stories and times of prayer. Students and alumni from the Worship Community, which Van Bochoven was a part of, led a time of singing and reflection, using songs his roommates said were his favorites. Classmates also shared memories of Van Bochoven, whom they described as an incredible musician and as a humble, kind and genuine friend.

Classmates and professors expressed disbelief, denial and deep sadness that something like this could happen to a friend. “[This event] gives the Messiah College community a chance to come together and acknowledge the whole situation in a way that lets us process it, talk with each other about it, pray . . . surrounded by other people who had a relationship with Ethan,” said senior Deanna Preziosi.

Remembering his incredible musical talent on the fiddle and violin was a common theme through the evening. “I can’t count how many times I heard him laughing upstairs with the guys, playing the violin and jamming out,” said Aaron Gray, a friend and former apartment neighbor of Van Bochoven. Recounting Van Bochoven’s audition for the Department of Music as an incoming first-year student, Professor of Music Tim Dixon said, “He just opens up and there is this amazing fire to his playing. He could improvise, which is an unusual skill for a violin player.” He was to play in his final orchestra concert this weekend. Dixon says they will leave an empty chair for him on the stage to honor his memory.

But it was Van Bochoven’s character that came up over and over again. “He was humble. He was not afraid to show people love, even if he didn’t know them,” said Esteban Nieves ’18, a friend of Van Bochoven’s. “He acted in a true, Christ-like manner all the time, no matter who was watching.”

“He would want the love of Christ to be shown through this somehow,” Nieves shared. “It might be tragic, but the love of God that Ethan showed is stronger than death. He showed that in his life.”

Local media also shared Messiah College’s remembrance of Ethan Van Bochhoven: