Van came to Barry in 2012, after graduating from Framingham High School. As he had done in high school, at Barry University Van excelled in academics, service to the University, and service to the community.
Van pursued a double major in Biochemistry and Finance at Barry. In addition to his extensive involvement in SMIF Van was active in a host of academic and leadership honor societies. He also served as a Barry Student Ambassador.
Van first showed up at a SMIF meeting in the Fall Term, 2014. He was full of enthusiasm for SMIFs missions, and eager to share his keen understanding of biology and chemistry - especially as these fields related to investments in the healthcare sector and its life sciences and pharmaceutical components.
For the next 2 ½ years Van’s drive - his urge to contribute - shone through in every discussion with him, in every SMIF research sector team meeting he attended, in every weekly SMIF team meeting, and in every pitch/research report he wrote and presented. In all of this Van’s character became more evident: affable, smiling, straightforward, trustworthy, hard-working, dedicated, confident but never arrogant, warm, and generous.
Simply put, Van knew that contribution requires commitment. Van infected untold numbers of SMIF students with this mindset. It is part of his legacy.
Van was graduated Cum Laude from Barry University in May 2017 with a BSBA in Finance from the Andreas School of Business, and a BS in Biochemistry from the College of Arts & Sciences.
After graduation, Van returned to his lovely family in Framingham. Van also started his most promising career as an Associate in the Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector in the Boston office of Silicon Valley Bancshares - a preeminent global Venture Capital financier. About two years later, in 2019, Van joined Hercules Capital as a Senior Analyst in their Life Sciences division.
Although the start of Van’s most promising career required an enormous investment of his time, he made time for his family, his faith, and for his alma mater. Van became a regular guest at SMIFs semi-annual Advisory Board meetings – where he was again keen to share what he was learning. Plans were afoot for summer internships and permanent hires of Barry University SMIF graduates at Hercules Capital.
In August 2020 Van suffered a fatal brain aneurism. The passing of a young person is always a grievous loss. Van’s loss is felt by all of us. It was impossible to have encountered Van without being warmly touched by him. We mourn the fulfillment of all that Van could have contributed but are also deeply thankful for the time we had with him.
