The Stony Brook Bengali student and alumni community is reeling from the loss of Shafayet Reja, the President of Bengalis Unite from 2006 until his graduation in May 2007. He was well known for his charismatic personality, warmth and friendliness. It was rare to see him without a wide, happy smile.

According to one of his best friends, Farah Rahman, he loved Stony Brook and used to say it was his home. Whenever he had the chance since graduation he would pick up Tarana Zaman, a current student who lived on the way, and would return to visit friends.

It was on one of those visits that he was critically injured in a car accident. While returning to his mother's on September 2nd, 22-year old Shafayet lost control of his Scion on 347 by Smithhaven Mall and hit a telephone pole. Critically injured, he was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital. Tarana was also taken to SBUH but her injuries were not life-threatening.

On September 10th, at 12:39pm, Shafayet passed away. Funeral services were held in Richmond Hill, Queens, where he grew up and graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School.

Photos of Shafayet can be found on a memorial site on Facebook. He is also on the cover and inside this years AA E-Zine / AAJ Guide to Asian American Resources at SBU. 

We are in the process of writing a more personal article talking to his friends. Anyone who would like to add to the article, please send any information or comments to aaezine@yahoo.com

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/ny-lidead0911,0,6513407.story

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/ny-licras0904,0,933674.story