The following obituary of Adam Towler '05 was published today in the Laramie Boomerang:

Adam Towler
1986-2006

Our beloved son and brother, Adam Robert Towler, died Sunday, July 16, 2006, under tragic circumstances. He was born in Brisbane, Australia, his father's hometown, on May 11, 1986 (Mother's Day). The Towler family moved to Laramie when he was 1 year old. He attended kindergarten through sixth grade at St. Laurence Elementary. As a junior high student, he won the Wyoming State Geography Bee in 2000 and 2001 and went on to compete nationally. A strong knowledge of the globe and an intercontinental family resulted in a deep and profound world interest that would shape his dreams. In ninth grade, he applied for and received a scholarship and acceptance to the prestigious Portsmouth Abbey in Portsmouth, R.I. His high school education served to flourish his personal growth, immense creativity and spiritual enlightenment. Athletically, he competed and found a niche in cross country and track. The Abbey also allowed Adam to nourish his altruistic personality while participating in the Appalachian service project two years in a row. Shortly thereafter, he volunteered with Heart to Heart in Laramie. Adam was also a published writer and poet. He won the school's poetry prize upon graduation from the Abbey in 2005. In the fall of the same year, he entered into his freshman year at Emory University in Atlanta. The diversity of Emory allowed him to pursue his interests with exuberant fervor. He was pleased with his international relations major and even more so with his studies in Hindi and his minor in Middle Eastern and Asian studies. He quickly became an editor at The Emory Political Review and became actively involved in the on-campus Catholic Church while maintaining a 3.7 GPA. In the summer of 2006, he was accepted to the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, realizing a longtime dream. Adam was looking forward to building a new life in the nation's capital. He thought maybe one day, he might be a diplomat or a consulate to a foreign nation and travel the world, visiting the places he had studied for long hours as a boy. Adam was a kind, insightful and genuine young man. He was well known for his sense of humor and ability to quickly make a stranger into a friend. Adam brought his parents and family great pride with both his character and accomplishments. He was a wonderful son and brother and well loved by all who knew him. Adam is survived by his parents, Brian and Shelley Towler; a sister, Sarah Towler; sister and brother-in-law, Renee and Andrew Clayton; grandparents, Joan and Don Leonard; grandmother, Nora Towler; aunts and uncles Kurt and Gloria Leonard, Lynn Eastridge, Kelly and Marc Teglia, Don Leonard, Trevor Towler, Carmel and Milo Milosevic, Pat and Jennifer Towler, Mike and Zhuli Towler, Julie and Phil Hatcher, Anne and Glenn Harte, Maria and Andrew Reid, John Towler, Louise and Damian Smith; and 31 cousins. Rosary and remembrance service, at which family and friends will be allowed to talk about Adam, will be at 7 p.m. Friday, July 21 at St. Laurence O'Toole Catholic Church. Funeral liturgy will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 22 at St. Laurence O'Toole Catholic Church. Graveside services and reception to follow. Contributions may be made to the Adam Towler Geography Education Fund or the Adam Towler Scholarship Fund for St. Laurence School, 617 S. Fourth, Laramie, WY; or please call (307) 745-3115.