The Wheaton Record
Wheaton, Ill.

Sept. 23, 2005

2004 alumnus dies suddenly
By Sarah Pulliam
Will Landry, a 2004 summa cum laude Wheaton graduate and former captain of the men’s basketball team, died in his sleep at his condominium in Warrenville, Ill. on Sept. 15 at age 24.
Will’s father, Henry Landry, said the autopsy did not reveal the cause of Will’s death, though his family thinks Will may have experienced a seizure.
“It was total shock. We just couldn’t believe it,” Henry said. “He had been having some medical problems, but not in the least bit that we thought was life threatening.”
Will’s housemate Owen Handy ’03 said John Anderson ’02, who carpooled with Will to work at Investortools in Yorkville, became worried when Will did not pick Anderson up.
Handy and Anderson went to the house where they found Landry lying motionless in his bed.
“I keep telling people that he’s got better roommates now. He’s in a better place,” Handy said. “Our grief isn’t for Will—it’s for his family and for not having him here.”
The funeral service will be held today in Landry’s hometown of LaGrange, N.Y. Landry’s family includes Henry, his mother, Carolyn, and his sister Rachel, 21.
“It’s probably at the quiet times that we find it most difficult, but we’ve had a tremendous outpouring of support,” Henry said.
There will be a memorial for Will at Wheaton, but Henry said the date is yet to be determined. Memorial contributions can be made in Will’s name to the Wheaton College basketball program.
Henry described his son as an outgoing person who had both a serious and a goofy side.
“He loved life and being with people,” Henry said. “Even though we only had him for 24 years, he lived a fruitful and active life.”
Will’s friends and former teammates gathered at the home of the Wheaton men’s basketball coach Bill Harris on the night of Will’s death.
“I’ve never buried one of my players. It’s not how it’s supposed to be,” Harris said. “They’re supposed to be waiting on my grave.”
Harris described Will as brilliant, crazy, fun, capable and loving.
“His death has been one of tears and laughter,” Harris said. “Heaven is better off, I’ll tell you what, and we’re worse off.”
Harris said he hopes to name the MVP award at the annual Lee Pfund tournament in November after Will.
Will was a starter during three of his four seasons playing basketball at Wheaton and became a team captain during his senior year. He was a third team all-CCIW selection as a senior.
He served on Wheaton’s student athlete advisory council and was a member of the student sports information staff for four years.
Senior Jordan Kemper, co-captain of the basketball team this year, said he hopes to have an impact on this year’s basketball players like the impact Will had on him during Kemper’s sophomore year.
“He lived life to the fullest and always had a smile on his face,” Kemper said. “He loved basketball, loved to read, loved to just hang with the team, loved to lead others towards a common goal, and—above all—loved the Lord with all of his heart.”
Will graduated from Wheaton in May 2004, earning a bachelor of science in computer science and mathematics and a minor in economics. His father said Will was considering attending graduate school to receive a masters degree in economics.
Will was a student of Terry Perciante, chair of the math and computer science department. Perciante described Will as a very bright student who was always quick to participate.
“He always took up extra space because he was tall,” Perciante said. “He would rarely miss class because his absence would be noticed and he knew it.”
Perciante described Will as a very people-oriented person even though he had a considerable range of academic abilities.
“He was the most gregarious kind of person that you could know; he was infectious in his enthusiasm,” he said. “Will was as engaging in the way that he worked as he was in his interpersonal friendships.”