Those who knew Adam Stephenson describe him as a regular guy; he liked to play football, listen to music and hang out with his friends. His favorite store was J. Crew, he played Halo and he had an amazing smile.

Last night over 100 students, faculty members and family members filled the aisles of Prout Chapel in memory of the 21-year-old mechanical engineering student who died on Dec. 14.

Adam grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where he lived with his family for the first part of his life. He moved to Chagrin Falls, Ohio where he attended Chagrin Falls High before moving to the University to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. By attending the University he hoped to fulfill his goal and begin working in the automotive industry after graduation.

Inside the chapel the walls were filled with tributes to Adam; pictures of Adam hanging out with his roommates, lined up with his friends before his high school prom and canoeing on a childhood vacation. Before the service friends and family gathered in casual groups, swapping stories about Adam and looking back on all of the parties and road trips they had together. They laughed as they remembered his sarcastic and laid back sense of humor.

The service began with a PowerPoint presentation made for Adam by his friend Heather Jenkins, and friends wiped their eyes as they watched the slideshow of his two and a half years at the University.

The slideshow was followed by a moment of silence for Adam; the room fell still while friends and relatives quietly paid tribute to Adam. The silence was broken by a series of personal reflections given by Adam’s college and high school friends.

The scene at Prout last night was not only one of sadness but also one of hope and dedication. Through tears, Adam’s friends could not help but laugh as they remembered Adam checking himself out in front of the mirror, telling a joke or dancing the “Chagrin Shuffle” as his roommate D.J. Underwood named Adam’s distinctive dance last year.

His friends remember Adam as quiet at first, but then funny and easy going; always willing to listen and not shy to tell a friend what he thought.

Adam loved sports, he loved hip hop music and his favorite band was Phish. His friends said that you could often find him staying up all night just joking around or talking about life. He cared deeply about his friends.

Caitlin Boyle, Adam’s neighbor at Founders, remembered staying up all night talking with Adam, going out together and making trips to tan together on weekend afternoons.

“He loved life,” Boyle said. “He loved his friends and having a good time and he was a real free sprit.”

Adam was always willing to help a friend, he was always ready to talk to them, roommate Chase Clements said. He described Adam as “an amazing person, he had a big heart and I am going to miss him.”

The packed chapel was a testament to the fact that Adam touched the lives of everybody he met. His stepfather Gus Aberle said he is forever grateful for knowing Adam.

“Seeing Adam grow over the past six years has been one of the greatest gifts I could have asked for,” Aberle said.

Those who knew Adam made it clear that they came together last night not to mourn Adam’s death, but to celebrate his life.

His friends vowed to dedicate their lives to Adam and his memory. His closest friends organized the service, and wanted to make sure that through stories and pictures, music and jokes Adam will be remembered and will live on in the lives of all of the people he touched at the University and throughout his life.