Matt Rzyski, Cal State Long Beach graduate student and member of Pi Kappa Phi, died of bacterial meningitis on June 11 at the age of 27.
According to friend and CSULB student Christina Fallon, Rzyski was put on life support and hospitalized for four days, beginning on June 7. She said the virus spread to his spinal cord and brain, but could not be traced. It is still unclear how he contracted it.
Fallon said she looked up to Rzyski. As a Theta Sigma founding father, Rzyski colonized the Pi Kappa Phi branch by bringing it to CSULB.
“Without Matt, none of [the members of Pi Kappa Phi] would really know each other,” Fallon said. “They give him a lot of credit for everything. To leave us like he did was really hard.”
A service was held on Monday at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest.
In addition, a fundraiser event will be held on Friday at Famous Dave’s BBQ in Orange from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The restaurant is located at 2214 N. Tustin St.
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