With the deepest sadness

On Thursday Evening, 4.20.06, two of my very close friends were killed in a single engine plane crash in Bloomington, Indiana. Zack Novak, 25 (left) and Garth Eppley, 25, (Right) were 2 of the 5 IU music students killed in the crash. They were returning from a rehearsal in LaFayette, Indiana which is about 3 hours by car northwest of Bloomington. Both Zack and Garth were graduates of Anderson University and were about to complete Master's degrees at IU. Zack studied Choral Conducting and Garth studied voice and opera.

Zack, Garth and I were in several shows together at Anderson. We were at anderson for 3 years together before I graduated. They are both one year younger than I am. Garth and Zack were both members of my small circle of 6- 8 friends who could always be found together during our time at Anderson.

Garth Eppley was one of the best friends of my life. I have spent to past 4 days trying to remember every interaction we had: our three years at Anderson together, two years as roommates, 5 shows, our recital, our trips to New York, our trip to Europe, Chorale trips, when he visited me in Ann Arbor and Xenia or the times that I drove to Bloomington to see him in something. He knew I hated that drive.

Eight days ago we were discussing plans for Garth to come see my new house I just bought. I had told him that I wanted to finish a room in the basement. Then last Sunday he called me to to help put up some walls in the basement. He often joked how I owed him like 25 "moves" because he had helped me move so many times over the last few year. I told him that I would get a pony keg and we could pick a weekend in June to work all day and then barbaque.

I will miss Garth and Zack for the rest of my life.

I just wanted you all to know.

Kevin

For more information please follow this link to a website with links to all the articles about the crash and the victims.

http://music.indiana.edu/publicity/tragedy/2006-04-21/media.shtml