Friends Remember Chang at Memorial Church Gathering

Members of the Harvard community gathered in Memorial Church on Wednesday to share memories of Wendy H. Chang ’12, who died on April 21.

Attendees of the memorial, which was organized by friends of Chang, filled up two thirds of the pews in the church.

“If it were anyone else, I don’t know you could fill a space like this with people she truly touched,” Chloe K. Goodwin ’12 said. “But for Wendy, I believe.”

A spokesperson for the agency overseeing the medical examiner confirmed last week that Chang’s death had been ruled a suicide.

An only child, Chang is survived by her father C.J. and her mother Ingrid.

The service began with opening words from Lowell House Co-Master Dorothy A. Austin and Tanya Henderson, a leader for the Buddhist movement Soka Gakkai International, which Chang belonged to.

While members of the Nichiren Buddhist Community performed a chant, attendees formed a procession to offer a rose or incense for Chang’s spirit. According to a pamphlet distributed by S.G.I. at the memorial, the “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo” chant was meant to awaken Buddhist brotherhood, while the smell of incense symbolizes the everlasting presence of loved ones who have died.

Lowell House Co-Master Diana L. Eck read aloud excerpts of a speech Chang had submitted for the senior class’ upcoming Class Day exercises.

In the speech, entitled “Many Brick Buildings,” Chang wrote that Harvard students were much like the strong brick buildings that populate the campus. She cautioned her fellow students not to house their hearts behind brick exteriors.

“We are often seen more as seeming okay rather than being okay,” Eck read from Chang’s speech.

The memorial also included a slideshow of photographs of Chang with friends around campus set to Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” One Republic’s “Good Life,” and Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours.”

“Never did I imagine I would walk through life without her,” said Kristin E. Arn ’12. She had imagined that she and Chang would pick out graduation dresses together, be bridesmaids in each others’ weddings, and sit side by side at reunions, she said.

“Today I have a hole in my heart in the shape of Wendy,” Arn said. No one could ever fill it, she continued, “and I don’t want them to.”

Many students spoke of Chang’s ability to make even banal and ordinary aspects of life exciting.

Erika P. Pierson ’12 recalled trips to CVS, where she and Chang would stock up on cheap make-up like fake eyelashes and “anything with glitter.”

“It’s a testament to Wendy’s ability to bring laughter and joy to the most mundane moments,” said Pierson, a former Crimson blog exec.

Jesse Calkins, who knew Chang from S.G.I., spoke of Chang’s enthusiasm for art that permeated her daily life. For Chang, even activities like mixing juices or concocting smoothies could be considered artistic expression, Calkins said.

Students also offered humorous memories. Asa E. Bush ’12 remembered a time he and Chang composed and performed a theme song for a Lowell House custodian during a late night in the dining hall.

“Being with Wendy was less like having a lone songster behind you and more like having a gospel choir. It was loud, it was passionate, it was radiant, and it was always, always full of love,” Bush said.

Many of the speakers also noted ways that members of the community have come together to support one another and collectively mourn Chang’s death.

Lowell House Resident Dean Brett Flehinger said that though Chang’s death has affected the lives of many, the tragedy has also shown the strength of the community. “She has proven we are not all alone,” he said. “We are connected and we are a part of each other.”

—Staff writer Melanie A. Guzman can be reached at melanieguzman@college.harvard.edu.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

CORRECTION: May 4

An earlier version of this article misquoted Asa E. Bush ’12.