Executive Director Statement - Robert & Anthony Dudchik

To contribute to the Robert & Anthony SUN Memorial Fund, please click here.

Dear SUN Community,

I have been struggling with how and when to present this to our larger SUN community – it is with the heaviest of hearts that I share that one of our beloved veteran alumni and cherished members of SUN, Rob Dudchik, tragically passed away this week in a fatal car crash. Our hearts go out to Rob, his brother Anthony, and the family and friends of all those impacted by the loss of three young lives.

Rob was one of my first students – he was a friend, pillar of our community, and an inspiring, gentle soul to anyone who met him. It was genuinely impossible to sit in a room with Rob and not love his spirit and energy. Everyone who knew him felt the same - Rob was loved by all.

Rob was a lover of anime – in fact, it was Rob who inspired me to get into the world of anime. As recently as this week, we were comparing tattoos we’ve had from our favorite shows.

Over the past few years, Rob accomplished all the dreams he set out to do on this world. He traveled the country by van on the adventure of a lifetime, advocated at the state capitol, and in the spirit of travel, landed the start of a dream career as a flight attendant. Rob was defined by an endless pursuit of freedom and kindness – at every step of his life, Rob lived to the fullest and fulfilled this dream.

Rob was with us from the very start – the relationship we had then became the bedrock of SUN, with the hopes that through true human relationships we can then provide the best of support. At every corner, Rob helped with SUN – in that matter, his spirit continues through the fabric of what was built.

There is no reason these incidents happen – Rob loved living, and his life was cut from us far too soon. It is in the spirit of pursuing freedom in life that we can honor Rob. Live life to its fullest, live life with remarkable degrees of empathy, and face every challenge with a smile. In the words of one of our favorite anime shows, “Go ahead and live with your head held high... set your heart ablaze.”

SUN is establishing grief counseling services for any students or staff who may need it.

With love,

Christopher Scott

SUN Scholars Inc., Executive Director