A Brother Remembered: How Mu Alpha Honors Patrick Latsha's Legacy Through Service and Reflection

Four years after his passing, Patrick's impact continues to bring brothers together in remembrance, gratitude, and commitment to living fully

There are some losses that never really fade. They soften with time, perhaps, but they remain present—a permanent part of who we are and how we understand what matters. For the Mu Alpha Chapter at Susquehanna University, the loss of Brother Patrick Joseph Latsha on October 2, 2021, was one of those defining moments that changed everyone who knew him.
Four years later, the chapter continues to honor Patrick's memory not through grand gestures or elaborate ceremonies, but through the kind of actions he would have appreciated most: serving their community, gathering to share stories, supporting his family, and committing to living with the same kindness and purpose that defined Patrick's too-short life.

The Brother Who Made Everyone Feel Welcome
Patrick Latsha arrived at Susquehanna University after starting his college journey at Penn State Harrisburg, and quickly found his home. As a communications major with aspirations of becoming a sportscaster, he spent his time working at WQSU radio, playing his favorite songs and discussing sports with the passion that characterized everything he did.

But it was in Phi Mu Delta that Patrick truly flourished. Serving as the chapter's chaplain, he focused on the betterment of his brotherhood with the same care he showed everyone he met. President Jonathan Green of Susquehanna University described Patrick as "the kind of student that would always be the first to help a new student who may have been feeling lost or confused, and that he would be one of the first to welcome that student as a friend, always offering to help in any way he could."

That was who Patrick was—not a man of many words, but someone whose actions spoke volumes. He treated everyone's problems as if they were his own, always put others before himself, and approached every challenge with an unshakeable positive attitude.

When Patrick was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, he attacked it with characteristic determination, declaring that "cancer started this fight, but I will finish it." He honored his word, fighting his way into remission with the stubborn refusal to be defeated that his friends and family knew so well. According to those who loved him, the toughest part of fighting cancer for Patrick wasn't his own struggle—it was seeing the pain in the faces of his family and friends. Even in his darkest moments, he worried about everyone else.

A Loss That Changed Everything
On October 2, 2021, Patrick suffered cardiac arrest while attending a fundraising event for Transitions of PA, a nonprofit organization providing resources for domestic abuse survivors. He passed surrounded by his friends, family, and fraternity brothers—doing what he always did, supporting a cause larger than himself.

He was 22 years old.

The news of Patrick's passing sent shockwaves through the Susquehanna community and beyond. At the conclusion of the 2021-22 academic year, his family received his diploma in communications, honoring him as a graduate and acknowledging accomplishments that extended far beyond any transcript.

"Patrick was a bright soul who could make anyone happier with his smile and contagious laughter," reflected Max Wigoda, Mu Alpha alumnus who knew Patrick well. "His passing four years ago was a very rough time for our fraternity."

Keeping His Memory Alive Through Service
In the years since Patrick's death, the Mu Alpha Chapter has worked intentionally to ensure his legacy continues in ways that honor who he was and what he valued. Jacob Rockoff, then an undergraduate, organized a fundraiser for a memorial bench where brothers and friends could gather to remember Patrick. The bench stands as a physical reminder of Patrick's presence at Susquehanna, but the real memorial lives in the actions of brothers who continue to serve their community in his name.

This year's remembrance took on special significance as the chapter conducted a service project cleaning up the local community—a fitting tribute to a brother who spent his final moments supporting a nonprofit organization and who always put others before himself. The act of physically improving their community honored Patrick's belief that actions speak louder than words and his commitment to making every place better simply by being there.

Following the service project, current brothers, alumni, Patrick's mother Kathy Latsha, and members of the broader Susquehanna community including Theta Chi and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternities gathered at Patrick's memorial bench. Attendees included Matthew Logan, Zack Daly, Matthew Hogan, Jacob Rockoff, Max Wigoda, Alex Raynes, and current Chaplain Ben Hornig, who shared memories and reflected on Patrick's continuing impact.

"Seeing how members who weren't even at college at that time came together to learn about Patrick and support Kathy and those returning to the bench to pay their respects was really heartwarming," Wigoda noted. "With Kathy being there it made this event whole, as she normally spends her time in California, we were all very glad to see her and be able to spend time with her."

Stories That Keep Him Present
The power of the remembrance event lay not in formal speeches or orchestrated programs, but in the authentic sharing of memories that reminded everyone why Patrick mattered so much.
Wigoda shared a story highlighting Patrick's goofy sense of humor, then pivoted to something more profound: "I also shared how everyone can learn to live the time that we have together to the fullest since you never know what's going to happen next."

This message—living fully, appreciating the present, treating others with kindness—captures exactly what Patrick's life modeled and what his death taught those who loved him. The service project earlier in the day embodied this commitment, transforming grief into action and remembrance into meaningful community contribution.

For Jacob Rockoff, who organized the original memorial fundraiser and returned for this year's event, the experience held deep significance: "Having the privilege to return to Susquehanna University and honor Patrick Latsha was nothing short of a touching experience. It was heartwarming to see so many gathered to share their memories of Pat, and a profound honor to support Kathy on this difficult day. Pat has been and will continue to be a pillar of our community, and his memory remains omnipresent in our brotherhood, and the campus community at large."

Gratitude and Commitment
Zack Daly captured the sentiment shared by many attendees: "I'm eternally grateful to the chapter for continuing to honor Patrick's legacy, and what he represented both as a brother of Phi Mu Delta and man."
This gratitude extends beyond just remembering Patrick—it encompasses appreciation for the chapter's commitment to keeping his values alive through service to their community and in how they treat each other.

Matthew Logan described the emotional impact of the gathering: "Attending the memorial for Patrick Latsha at Susquehanna University was both very emotional and inspiring. Arriving at the Phi Mu Delta house and seeing so many familiar faces gathered in his memory reminded me of how deeply he influenced everyone he met even for those who never got the chance to meet him."

This observation—that Patrick influences even brothers who never met him—speaks to the power of intentional remembrance combined with meaningful action. By serving their community in Patrick's name, sharing his story, and committing to live by his example, current Mu Alpha brothers ensure that his impact continues to shape their chapter culture years after his passing.

"The stories shared and the genuine care shown by friends, family, and classmates very much reflected the kind of person Pat was—selfless, kind, and full of life, and always never had a bad day," Logan continued. "Standing there, I felt an immense sense of gratitude to have known him and to be part of a community that continues to carry his legacy forward."

Living His Values
The remembrance event concluded with brothers gathering at Axeman Tavern, continuing the conversations and connections that Patrick would have loved. From morning service project to afternoon reflection at the memorial bench to evening fellowship, the day embodied exactly the kind of brotherhood Patrick fostered during his life—authentic, warm, purposeful, and focused on genuine relationship rather than performance.

What makes Mu Alpha's approach to honoring Patrick's memory so powerful is its refusal to let his death be the final word on his life. Instead, the chapter has committed to remembering how he lived—with kindness, purpose, stubborn optimism, and unwavering care for others—and translating that memory into ongoing service to their community.

Patrick's declaration that "cancer started this fight, but I will finish it" wasn't just about his medical battle. It was about his determination to live fully, love deeply, and make every moment count. He honored that commitment until his final breath, surrounded by the brothers and friends he cared about so deeply, supporting a cause that helped others.
The community cleanup conducted in his memory represents the continuation of that commitment—brothers taking action to make their community better, just as Patrick made every space he entered better simply by being there.

A Light That Still Shines
Patrick Joseph Latsha was born on March 24, 1999, and passed away on October 2, 2021. Those dates mark the beginning and end of his physical presence, but they don't capture his true impact. That lives on in every brother who treats a struggling student with extra kindness, in every member who puts others before himself, in every service project conducted in his name, and in every gathering where brothers commit to living fully and appreciating the time they have together.

"We believe that Heaven is a better place with Patrick," his obituary noted. "The world lost a light and kind soul, an amazing son, and an incredible friend... It is not in Patrick's passing that we should remember him, it's how he lived, HOW HE DID LIVE. This is what he would've wanted—to see all his loved ones together, remembering how he brought us together."

Four years later, the Mu Alpha Chapter continues to honor that wish. They serve their community in Patrick's name, gather at his memorial bench, share stories that keep his memory vivid, support his mother Kathy, and commit to treating each other with the same care Patrick showed everyone he met.
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They remember not just that he died, but how he lived. They honor not just his memory, but his values through action. They ensure that brothers who never met Patrick still understand what he represented and why he matters to their chapter's identity—not through words alone, but through the service projects and community engagement that reflect his commitment to making the world better.

That's what brotherhood looks like when it's lived at its highest level—not just celebrating the good times, but supporting each other through loss, transforming grief into service, keeping memories alive through intentional action, and committing to live by the example of brothers who showed us what's truly important.

Patrick Latsha's smile may be gone, but his light continues to shine through every Mu Alpha brother who chooses kindness, every member who puts others first, every service project conducted in his honor, and every gathering where his name is spoken with love and gratitude.

That's a legacy worth honoring. That's a brother worth remembering. That's brotherhood that transcends death and continues to transform lives—and communities—years after loss.

Rest in peace, Brother Latsha. Your chapter hasn't forgotten, and they never will.