Hillel held its weekly Friday service at the Hebrew Union College today, but before they started, rabbitic intern Lori Schneide wanted to say a few words about Sandy Roberts.  “We had a great tragedy [last] Saturday.  We lost a member of our community Sandy Roberts,” she said.  “We need to celebrate.  We need to raise the roof despite this tragedy.” Schneide then proceeded to light a candle and finished the kaddish in memory of the USC student.

Roberts, a sophomore majoring in cinema, was killed in a car crash while traveling on Highway 46 in Kern County on Saturday.  He died when being airlifted to Kern Medical Center, according to the Daily Trojan. 

His girlfriend Nicole Deane was driving the car at the time of the accident.  She was also taken to Kern Medical Center, but was released.  “I visited her yesterday, and Nicole is rehabilitating at Cedar Sinai,” said Schneide. 

Roberts will be buried this weekend in Florida. 

The 21-year-old will be remembered by not only his family in the cinema school, but also by the members of the improv group The Merry Men.  The group released the following statement to ATVN:

“We feel like we lost a member of the family. He was a daring improviser and an absolutely hysterical person, but it was his personality that made him incredible. It was Sandy that really defined our image not just as a troupe that entertains, but as your friends that also do improv. He had an astoundingly infectious zest for life and made everyone around him better for knowing him. A phenomenal talent that will never be forgotten.”

Cardinal Gardens, the apartment complex where Roberts lived, had a banner available for students to sign this past week.  The banner will be given to his family on behalf of the Cardinal Gardens community.