Remembering Asher

Asher z"l was such a kind person. I was never very close with him because we never had a class together in high school and we had different groups of friends, but even though we didn't speak often, when we did, i always left the conversation feeling happy. He was a happy person. He had this infectious smile that brought warmth to those who saw it, and he used it often. Many students feel that high school can be cruel, and they often blame the "popular kids." But Asher was popular, and did not have a cruel bone in his body. Asher was popular because he had a wonderful personality. he was optimistic, outgoing, friendly, and just nice - and because of this, so many people liked him and wanted to be his friend. and unlike many popular people in high school, Asher made an effort to talk to people outside of his immediate group of friends. It didn't matter if you were "cool" or not. Asher was nice and friendly to everyone. Even though the only memories I have with Asher are of random conversations in the halls of Frisch and smiles exchanged, I know that the world lost someone very special. Asher truly was an amazing person. I miss him terribly.

As an aunt, there were so many precious memories.  The most recent was was that is indelible in my mind:  Asher walked my mother to the chupah our (my husband Mike and my) daughter and son in law, Yaffa and Ari.  It was a beautiful time.
 Working backward, I will never forget inviting the Strobels over for a Chanuka seudah.  It was the first of several.  I actually repeated this seudah partially because Asher made me feel so wonderful.  He was astonished at my home made birwellos (honey glazed donuts)... you would have thought it was the first time he had ever had one!
One of the earlier memories that really signify his special connection he and Yaffa had, was of him, talking to her as a special confidant,quietly in her room  sounding so very mature and sincere, and asking her questions as the older cousin. You might think they were teens, but he was no older than 6 or 7 years old!
When he spoke to our sons, Norman and Yosef, who are older, or to my husband or I, it did not matter what age we were, we always had something to offer him, something he could learn from us.  This is what you can take home from Asher's memory- that everyone has something to offer the world...to take the offering with respect and gratitude.
He was so very special.  We will truly never forget him and will feel the hole in our hearts forever.

Sincerely,
Sheilah Galanti

The following video was shown at the Gala Dinner celebrating 25 years of Chabad at Binghamton on October 17, 2010. The video features Asher briefly.

Hundreds of BU students came together to honor Asher Strobel of blessed memory, a second year student at Binghamton that passed away on Jan. 6 2011, Shvat 1 5771 at the age of 21. BU interim president MaGrath, Asher's brother, Chabad Rabbis, Rivkah Slonim and many of Asher's friends spoke movingly about Asher and his impact on all who knew him. May his memory be for a blessing.  Photos by J. Forrest

To view photos of the memorial click here.

Asher and I always used to pass each other to and from class right outside of the Library. It became a sort of ritual to stop and chat for a minute every Monday and Wednesday- a chance for him to brighten my day, as usual. One day, I noticed there was something different in his voice. When I asked what was the matter, he confessed that he was feeling under the weather and proceeded to cough into his sleeve. I immediately pulled out a bag of cough drops that I had in my bag, and begged him to take them. Of course, he refused. Because he was Asher. I desperately tried to nag and annoy him into taking them, but he still refused in the case that I may one day need them. I devised a plan to throw the bag of cough drops at him and run away as fast as possible to ensure that he would have no other choice but to take them. Alas, my plan worked.
Soon enough, I saw him a week or two later in our usual spot. We chatted for our usual minute, and I walked away towards my class. I then suddenly heard him yell my name and run towards me as ripped open his back pack. He had bought a brand new bag of cough drops just to replace the bag that I had given him. "I've been carrying these around in my bag for weeks just in case I see you," he casually said. It was something only Asher would do. And it was something that I will never forget.

It is still hard to comprehend the fact that Asher Strobel has been taken away from us. After the memorial service in his honor tonight it is clear to everyone that he was an incredible, selfless and genuine person. Always looking out for others and making sure that everyone around him was content. One of the last times I spoke to Asher I was in the kosher kitchen holding my menorah the first night of Chanukah. He asked me where I got it from and how he could get one for his good friend. He knew that his friend probably wouldn’t take the time to get one on his own, so he took it upon himself to get him one. Asher asked me in such a thoughtful and compassionate way that even though I had no idea who his friend was, I decided to get him an extra menorah to give him the next day. By the time I saw him he had already gotten it for his friend but he gave me countless amount of “thank yous” anyways, making me feel like I just saved the world. This inconsequential occurrence exemplifies on the simplest level the kind of person Asher was. He lived each day to the fullest, always giving his friends compliments and making them smile.

Being that I only spent one semester in Binghamton so far, I haven’t gotten the chance to get to know everyone in Chabad yet, but Asher was one of the students who really reached out to me and made me feel comfortable right away. One day during finals week, I was sitting at the same table as Asher studying for our final exams. I definitely looked super stressed so he started asking me about my finals and really listened to me vent about my tests I had coming up. He was able to make me smile at a time when it was very necessary and appreciated. We should all learn from Asher to put life into perspective and think about what really matters in life. One of the many things Asher has taught me was to always strive to be the best person I can be and never give up. He was someone who took advantage of every moment he had and he will never ever be forgotten.

During finals week I was waiting in the icy snow for the Binghamton bus which was running way way behind schedule. It was freezing and I was struggling against the heavy winds to keep my large portfolio filled with my precious artwork from blowing away. I was on my way to campus for my final portfolio review, something I certainly could not be late for.

As the minutes flew by, I knew this bus wasn't coming.

I felt stranded.

It seems as though it was out of nowhere, a white car appeared in front of me and the words questioning "you need a ride to campus?" slipped through the opening window. ASHER! MY WHITE KNIGHT!

In the mere minutes it took us to drive to campus, Asher asked me question after question about my work, the upcoming review, what I was doing for the break... He was genuinely interested in what his friends were up to and this was natural for him.

When he dropped me off, I thanked him profusely, told him he saved my life and then watched him drive away. I suddenly realized that he wasn't on his way to campus when he picked me up, he drove there only for me. I made it to my portfolio review right on time.

That was the last time I ever saw Asher. He rescued me.

My love and thoughts go out to his family.

Everyday when I stand at the bus stop I think of Asher.

I was Asher's CS 205 professor and am so sorry to learn of this.

I got to know Asher very well while he was my student. He contributed in class and often met with me during my office hour and after class. Our conversations were rarely limited to school work.

I found him bright, hard-working, friendly, and inquisitive. He always wanted to do well. What really struck me was he always wanted to know why? Why this? Why that? He often told me that our conversations left him with something to think about. I must admit, he made me work at it! I truly enjoyed our conversations.

Words are never adequate at this time! My sorrow truly heartfelt!

My most cherished experience with Asher was the time he was in the library and he had an assignment due the next day. He asked me if i could help him, as I took the class last year. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the material and see how much i remembered. Me and Asher spent the next 20 minutes going over the material until finally we were able to submit it. I didn't think much of it, after all i was just helping him out with a couple of homework problems. The way he made me feel afterwards though is something i expect never to forget. He kept thanking me and saying how nice it was that i helped him and how i took time out of my night to work on this homework with him. I really didn't think it was that big of a deal, but I felt so good afterwards because of the way he reacted. I remember even inserting a thank you in my tefillah for the opportunity to help him, thats how good i was feeling. What really stood out is the next day when i woke up i saw a text from him that read: "I just helped someone out because i felt compelled to repay the favor to someone after the favor you did for me, thanks again"
I was amazed. The fact that I did something little caused Asher to do something for someone else in return?
Looking back on the situation, I don't know why Asher had to leave us at such a young age, nobody knows Gds will. It serves as a reminder to us that Gd puts us all here for a specific reason and it is up to us to get to work and complete the task. We don't know when we will leave, all we know is the amount of effort we have put in in completing Gds will.

The fact that i had the opportunity to do a mitzvah for Asher, and that he in turn did a mitzvah for someone else out of all of this is something that no one can take away from either of us.

I will always remember how I was your TA for CS 205 and you always came and asked me to help you with the assignments even outside of our scheduled class time because you were so dedicated to your schoolwork. It is something I will always admire. Also playing basketball with you last year during intramurals was great. I will always cherish the memories. You are sorely missed Asher and although I don't and might never understand why this had to happen, ultimately I have to believe that G-d has a greater plan.

We weren't really close but we were definitely friends. I loved seeing Asher around campus always giving me huge hello's and hugs all the time. It is so surreal that he is gone and I am going to miss him so so so so much. I wish the best for Asher's family and close friends. He will be missed.

I didn't know Asher as well as i would have liked to but every time i saw him he was smiling and so friendly. He was liked by everyone and a dedicated friend to anyone who needed him. May he rest in peace and forever will he be in the hearts of everyone who cared and loved him.

My deepest condolences go out to the Strobel family. I am very sorry for your loss. 

I remember hanging out with Asher this past summer in Union Square at TJ Max. He got a wallet that day. As we left he persisted that we go out for drinks; him, me, Elana and someone else. I couldn't make it, but Ill never forget how sincere Asher was. He wanted to hang out for the sake of being in one another's company. Going back, I regret not joining in that night. I saw Asher several times in the fall. He came over our house to hang out a bunch of times. Those memories are a blur but I can remember the sincerity in Asher's tone so vividly from that day in Union Square.

Every time I think of what happened to him it burns my heart. Asher was a young man.The day I heard what happened, I denied it at first. Why Asher, really Asher? With no warning whatsoever, it seemed too extreme to be real. The funeral, that was all too real. I met with my friends, it was good to see them, but on such an occasion the sweetness was void, in its place a deep sorrow we all felt and saw in one another. We arrived at the temple early and sat in the back rows. As we listened, we wept. I remember listening to Asher's friend speak about how after they lost the finals basketball game, Asher sincerely believed he lost the game for his team. He genuinely believed it. That really got to me hard, more so than anything else because of how I could relate so much in such a different aspect of Asher's life. That is Asher to me, sincere and genuine. It makes sense now, that I can so vividly remember his sincerity that day in Union Square. That memory will last, and I will neve r forget Asher. Though he may be gone, his impact is not.