The passing of David Parrish has rippled throughout the Boulder community, but not in terms of distinguishing those who knew him from those who did not - as is often the natural course of events in death.

In the case of David Parrish, however, a sense of loss seems tangible even for those who, like many of us, have merely been introduced to him second-hand - through the unfolding chain of news coverage providing us faraway glimpses of his life and sudden death.

And yet, somehow, even these small glimpses serve as more than enough to overwhelm the furthest outsider who hears them.

Our culture's unfortunate clichés about Spring Break deaths - the all-too-common mixture of substance abuse with the hubris of youth - was shattered by the circumstances of last week's events.

Acting on instinct in an attempt to protect his mother from two common thieves, a young man with a zest for life and genuine passion for embracing other cultures was snatched from his family and friends in an unexpected act of senseless violence on foreign soil.

He is remembered by his family as an ideal son - with a wry sense of humor and desire to foster his strongest bonds with those closest to him. He is remembered by his friends as an ideal friend - with an affable nature and principled depth of character. He is remembered by his school as an ideal student - a Dean's List nominee determined to bridge the knowledge of his studies with a concrete understanding of other lands and peoples.

And as for the community he left behind? The town he called home between his travels to Japan, Africa, Costa Rica and elsewhere? How are we to remember David Parrish?

In terms of his life, David was many things. At the age of 21, young and driven, he was an athlete, photographer, and traveler of the world. In terms of his death, he was nothing short of a hero.

There are a myriad of reasons to admire David, but in the end they all merely point to the one characteristic we can all remember him by: courage. In the context of travel, it takes courage to step into the unknown - past the comfort zone of your own country and social circle. In the context of school, work, and personal passion, it takes courage to strive to achieve the goals you truly desire - not only in having to sacrifice the temporary pleasures of the here and now, but also in finding a way to overcome the constant possibility of failure.

Finally, it takes courage to stand up for what you believe is right. David not only demonstrated this courage with a clear desire to connect with people who shared completely different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences than his own - he took it to the grave when he saw those living by a lesser code trying to take advantage of a loved one.

David had the courage to live life on his own terms - a brand of courage often confused by the kind of cowards who shot him as being macho and self-reliant. David didn't subscribe to that backwards notion. He gained self fulfillment by having the courage to reach out. It is the very example of people like David which proves that to be truly courageous, you have to first be selfless - a quality we could all certainly use a little more of.