Friends, family and campus officials gathered this week to remember Stewart Trese at a memorial held in Robert Carr Chapel.

It was a celebration of Trese’s life, Michael Meek, president of Brothers Under Christ, wrote in an email.

“There were a few friends who shared memories of good times with Stewart and we just laughed and reminisced,” Meek wrote.

The memorial, which lasted for just over an hour, was solemn, comforting and at times, funny, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Cavins-Tull said.

The memorial was particularly important to Trese’s family because it showed them the difference he made at TCU, Cavins-Tull noted.

Meek had similar thoughts and hoped the memorial meant a lot to Trese’s family.

“We wanted to show them the difference he made in BYX and the TCU community,” Meek wrote. “Having them there was a joy.”

In addition to Cavins-Tull, Chancellor Victor Boschini made an appearance at the service. Minister to the University Angela Kaufman also attended.

Trese’s mother, Karen Trese, said in an earlier interview that Stewart valued his friends greatly. Meek wrote that Stewart would have loved to see all of his friends gathered in one place Monday night.

“He loved BYX for the community of friends that he built and his friends were there to celebrate his life,” Meek wrote. “I thought the memorial was a wonderful representation of Stewart.”

Trese died Feb. 4 at the Grandmarc Apartments. David Hidalgo, 21, later admitted to killing Trese and remains in jail with bail set at $100,000, according to jail records. Hidalgo is charged with murder and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 26. 

Trese’s murder is still under investigation.