Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 40 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Make a Difference In One Person’s Life Each Day
Sometimes things happen that are not fair. This week was an example of that with my nephew Reeves Broussard.
Reeves in 2016
He was diagnosed with a condition called AVM (Arteriovenous malformation) in early November of 2022 and due to its location, it was felt that it was inoperable, making it a ticking time bomb. We all hoped that he would have more time, but God had other plans for Reeves and all of us.
He and I shared a career and a love of Dad jokes. When he got a job doing development for Chick-fil-A, I asked him when they checked code back into the repository if they had to add a comment that said “My pleasure.” He thought it was hilarious.
How will I remember Reeves? Well, he is just like my dad in so many ways. From being a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a faithful Catholic to being extremely smart to a level of kindness and consideration that few could match I wish every person in the world had a chance to learn how incredible he was.
My Brother, my Dad, and Reeves, three generations of 4th Degree Knights
On September 23rd, for the final time, he showed his generous spirit by giving the gift of life to others by donating his organs. They held an Honor Walk for him at the hospital which was attended by about 200 people.
The line of people escorting Reeves this final time
The hospital was blown away by the outpouring of support and love for this fine young man. My brother told me that people kept coming up to him to tell him how Reeves had impacted their lives. The security guard at the hospital told my brother that people wanted to know what celebrity was at the hospital from the crowd that was there all weekend. They flew an Organ Donor flag for him as well and it will be treasured.
The crowd outside of the hospital for the flag-lowering
He had a knack for making a connection with people, but amazingly he maintained those connections over time. I talk to people all day long, every day in meetings and often have to find a way to quickly establish a rapport with someone, but Reeves didn’t just do that surface connection, he maintained it and was an amazing listener.
He attended Georgia Tech (a big deal for a family from Athens, GA where the UGA is the destination of choice), but he endured the teasing with good humor and got himself a fantastic education. While he was majoring in Computer Science, he also did a minor at the Denning Technology & Management Program where he learned about business and management while the business students learned about programming. I’d highly recommend such an interdisciplinary program to everyone. While in school, he interned for Boeing and then worked for General Motors as a developer before making his move to Chick-fil-A.
Along the way, he was the uncle to his sister’s three children, always making the trip from Atlanta to Athens to be there for them.
Reeves with his Nieces and Nephew
We last saw Reeves this summer when we made a trip out to visit everyone in Georgia. He had to work the entire week, but on Friday when we were heading to the airport, we met up with him for lunch. His smile, his sense of humor, and his immense graciousness in taking my wife and the kids to the mall while I had to take a work call were typical of how we did everything in life. Oh, and he didn’t just drop them off, he went into the mall with them and accompanied them for the hour that I had to be in a call. I would say that he likely had better things to do then, but for him, this was the “better thing.”
When my brother was organizing his funeral Mass, the group got to watch his interview for the Denning School, and in that, Reeves said that his goal in life is to “Make a difference in one person’s life each day.” As I was at the reception after his funeral mass, I saw the crowd (about 500 people attended the mass) and I saw circles and circles of people who all knew each other from somewhere…from college, from various jobs. Reeves had been their Best Man or were fraternity brothers or fellow Knights. I told my son that each of these circles is a distinct social group but that they all were surrounded by Reeves, and he brought them together. I know that he wouldn’t want us to be sad, and I’m sure he is waiting for us to join him one day, but it’s hard when I see all the lives he touched and how many people will miss him. So I ask myself, did I make a difference in someone’s life today?
Published in General
So sorry for your loss. This post is inspiring, and it will likely make a difference today in the lives of those of us who read it.
So true. What an amazing young man. Condolences to you, your family, and all those who loved him.
What a loss, both to your family and to the wider world. I am so sorry. May Reeves rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing to you all.
This got a chuckle from me, and then a lump in my throat.
Thank you for introducing us to your nephew Reeves Broussard. May he rest in peace.
Sorry for you loss.
What an outstanding human being. You are fortunate to have known him. What a blessing.
From what you’ve written, Reeves embraced his faith and lived it fully. He is a reminder to me to live my life better.
My condolences to your family. May Reeves rest in peace and may His perpetual light shine upon him.
a truly moving tribute for an amazing man. Thank you for sharing such detail, and the pictures too. You can see his compassion and tenderness in those pictures, along with his sense of joy.
My screen got all fuzzy there for a bit. Thank you for bringing Reeves to us.
What an inspiration your nephew is. Your post is a beautiful tribute to a life well lived.
This is a moving and inspiring tribute to your nephew – thank you. He was truly a remarkable young man! I found myself wondering if he will become one of our young modern saints, like Carlos Acutis.
What he said. Thank you.
What a moving eulogy for a young man who touched many, many people in his too-short life. My condolences for your loss.
Thank you for sharing Reeves’ life with us — and your understandable sense of loss. I find I’ve shed a few tears myself. I suppose there’s consolation in Reeves seeming to be perfected in Christ — and an inspiration that even a short life may attain the graces necessary to become who God made us to be.
RIP.
Thank you.
I couldn’t finish reading this without tears running down my face. What a guy!
This young man’s life packed a lot of living and loving into a short time span. Many people who live three times as long as him won’t have as large an impact as he did. Would that we could all inspire, and aspire, to such a life…..