'A Bright Light': Family, Friends Mourn NJ College Senior Found Dead At 22

MOUNTAIN LAKES, NJ — More than $48,000 has been raised in memory of a Morris County native who died suddenly on his Pennsylvania college campus over the weekend.

Christian Samay, 22, was set to graduate from Bucknell University this spring. The Mountain Lakes High School graduate was majoring in political science with a minor in political science, according to his obituary with Norman Dean Home for Services.

Samay was found dead at his fraternity house on Saturday afternoon of an as-yet unknown cause, university officials said. His Phi Gamma Delta brothers organized a GoFundMe campaign to pay for his funeral, pay for memorials at the fraternity house, and fund future events dedicated to him.

"This past Saturday, we lost an integral, impactful person in our lives," wrote the fundraiser's organizer, Evan Aycock. "Christian was a one of a kind person who constantly made everyone around him happy."

Samay's family asked that the brothers donate the remaining proceeds from the GoFundMe to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Samay's death is still under investigation, but officials said it does not appear to be suspicious. The Union County Coroner told local media it could take six to eight weeks before his cause of death is determined.

In his obituary, family members remembered Samay as a man with a zest for life, who performed random acts of kindness for strangers and was fiercely loyal to those he loved and protected.

"His 22 years on earth were marked by his unique humor, contagious laugh, radiant charm, beautiful smile, passion for life, loyalty to all of those he loved and protected, and heart of a lion," his loved ones wrote.

He is survived by his parents, Christian and Allison (Blender) Samay and two younger sisters, Ava and Emily, his obituary states. Samay is also survived by his maternal grandfather Mark Blender, paternal grandparents Z. Lance Samay and Linda Mack, as well as his aunts, uncles, and cousins.

"The positive impact that Christian has had on the people who knew will transcend his lifetime," the obituary states. "He lived every day of his life with passion, zeal, and love for those important to him."

According to his obituary, a visitation will be held on Friday, April 5 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Norman Dean Home for Services (16 Righter Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834)

A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church (10 North Pocono Rd., Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046).

Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery Mausoleum in East Hanover.

Memorial donations may also be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in his name.

Original article — College Senior From Morris Dies On PA Campus, Officials Say