Josiah Galat didn’t often wear shoes.

While not a big deal on its own, it was enough for many people to take notice. During his two years at Ashland University, he studied special education training, competed on the swimming and diving team as well as the rugby team, and was regarded by many as a friendly and charismatic individual who lived every day to the fullest.

“I remember the first time I ate in Convo, I sat at a table with him and a few others and it wasn’t long before he had us in tears laughing. He just had a way of always bringing so much energy to a room,” said junior Alexander Sheil, one of his former teammates. “As a diver he had never-ending courage, we would watch in awe and sometimes fear as he would attempt the craziest dives in the off chance that one of them might stick. I think that was the way that he lived his life too, always trying different things regardless of how crazy or different they seemed. Josiah was certainly someone I had a lot of respect for and I always enjoyed the times I spent with him.”

He was a student with no shortage of friends and he lived to make others smile.

“He always had a goofy smile on his face and made sure to help make everyone around him smile too,” said senior Alison Stephenson, another one of his teammates. “I am blessed to have met Josiah and to have been able to call him my friend and my teammate.”

Before the fall 2012 semester, Galat transfer to the University of Toledo to study mechanical engineering. On Dec. 19, he died while still on campus.

In the hours after news of his death spread across social media sites, a Facebook page was created to allow friends and family to share memories and stories.

The page titled “In loving memory of Josiah Galat” has amassed over a 1700 “likes” and is frequently posted on by people who knew him.