Recent graduate Andrew J.R. Quek remembered

4:24 p.m., July 17, 2013--Andrew J.R. Quek, who received his bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Delaware in January 2013, passed away July 5, at Barnabas Hospice Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, N.J. He was 23. 

A member of the Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity, Mr. Quek served as a resident assistant for the Office of Residence Life and Housing for three and half years and was promoted to several leadership roles and specialty positions during that time. 

James Tweedy, senior associate director of residence life, said, "Students have the chance to give formal feedback about their RA, and Andrew was given glowing marks each year. His residents always commented about his deep desire to help others, the investment he showed in each of them and that he was often the bright part of any bad day.  

"Andrew will be incredibly missed by his Residence Life colleagues and will be remembered for his significant contributions to his residents and to the department," Tweedy said. "He will also be remembered and for his constant smile and incredibly good nature that never fluctuated even in the most difficult of circumstances."

Sheldon Pollack, professor of law and legal studies, said, "Andrew was an accounting major, and so he was required to take two semesters of my business law courses. I think that he was surprised that that he actually enjoyed the subject -- maybe even more than accounting. Andrew was an active participant in the class discussion, always had interesting questions and often came by my office to talk about the class. That is how I came to know him. Andrew was a very cheerful and interesting young man -- just the kind of student that professors enjoy teaching. I was very saddened to hear of his passing."

Mark Adelman, one of Mr. Quek’s fraternity brothers, said, “Andrew had the largest heart and an upbeat personality with an infectious smile. He was highly involved on campus as a part of Delta Sigma Pi and ResLife. In Delta Sigma Pi, Andrew could be counted on to go far above and beyond expectations to volunteer for events or to help those in need. He had an incredible ability to make strangers feel welcome. An academic scholarship will be named in Andrew's honor and will be awarded to recipients who exemplify the same characteristics as Andrew: academic success and dedicated service to the fraternity. 

“Andrew touched so many lives and will always be remembered as a selfless, hard-working, cheerful and kind man,” Adelman said. “He brought happiness and light to everyone who knew him. It was impossible to be in a bad mood whenever he was around. Andrew will forever be remembered by those who had the honor of knowing him and will be missed greatly.”

Born in Plainfield, N.J., Mr. Quek lived in Scotch Plains, N.J., before moving to Berkeley Heights. He was employed as an accountant for Berdon LLP, Manhattan, and was an avid basketball fan. 

He is survived by his parents, Samuel Quek and Alice Chao; his aunts, Angela and Jeanne; uncles, Gerald, Michael, Tim, Chris and Yeats; and cousins, Natalie, Khloe, Xavier and other relatives in Canada, Singapore, Australia and the United States. 

A memorial service was held July 13 in Summit, N.J. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Andrew Jia Ren Quek Memorial Fund to support oral health care for those in need. Checks should be made out to Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and sent to 110 Bergen St., Suite B-824, Newark, NJ 07101, attn. Jenny Kershner.

To leave online condolences, visit www.ippolitofuneralhomes.com.