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View a eulogy for Peter Zhu, USMA '19, who passed away on February 28, 2019.

Peter Zhu

West Point, 2019

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Michael Martinez on March 2, 2019:

Today, February 28 2019, I found out that the most hard working, most charismatic, and most humble person I know passed away. Peter Zhu was not only my classmate for the last 4 years at West Point, he was also my company mate and my roommate, but most of all he was my friend. Rooming with him this past month and a half helped me see Pete in a new light since we first met as freshmen at the Academy 4 years ago. Throughout our time as roommates Pete and I joked around together, stayed up late doing homework together, woke up early for our school commitment together, slept in on the weekends together, shared meals everyday together, shared stories about our lives together, laughed about random things together, talked about sports together, made future plans for graduation together, talked about our dreams and ambitions together, talked about God and religion together, ranted about our terrible days together, and did a countless number of other things together. I got to know Pete more closely not only as a roommate, but as a unique and irreplaceable friend. Almost everyday Pete motivated me to become a better individual, motivated me to go to the gym when I wasn't feeling it, motivated me to get my work done earlier so that I could get more sleep, and motivated me to get closer to God as he was doing the same in his life. He was the type of person that I wish you could have met and have a conversation with, someone who truly valued friendships and relationships, someone who put the needs of others before his own. Pete was in every aspect the model friend, student, leader, and scholar, a person of the highest moral integrity and personal character. Pete was an exemplary role model who, without a doubt, led by example in every aspect of his life. His goals and ambitions, coupled with his humility and personality, made him such a special, charismatic, down to earth person who positively affected the lives of every single person that met him. Pete was a highly respected and highly loved cadet amongst West Point's faculty as well as the Corps of Cadets. He was rated in the top 2% of our graduating class, was waiting to hear his acceptance into Harvard Medical School next week, applied for and awaiting acceptance for the Fulbright Scholarship, helped a countless number of cadets with their academic goals, was an active churchgoer and member of a Christian club called Officer Christian Fellowship, aspired to become a doctor to help the lives of countless others in the future, and achieved so many other things throughout his life. No amount of words can ever fully describe what an amazing man that Pete was, and everything I've said about him barely comes close to painting a picture of who he truly was. Pete had a passion for life and he demonstrated that even to the end, as he suffered a terrible accident while doing what he loved to do, skiing for hours on end. Pete's example of leadership and character made the world a better place, and I am eternally grateful to have known him and to have shared most of his remaining time on earth together. I will never forget my classmate, my roommate, and above all my friend Peter Zhu. Thank you for the impact that you've made in my life, I love you Pete.

 
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