Nick Faas, left, was a senior in philosophy and descendant of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

OSU says goodbye to philosophy student

Nicholas Faas, 24, died in two-vehicle accident on Highway 99

By: Anneke Tucker

Posted: 5/23/08

He is remembered for being a young man filled with energy and spirit, a dancer who sang, loved and lived dancing.

Nicholas Larry-Lee Faas, a senior in philosophy at Oregon State University, passed away in a motor vehicle accident last week.

Yesterday, memorial services were held for Faas in a tribal ceremony in Grande Ronde, collaborated by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

The love, friendship and compassion that Faas gave to those who knew him was honored at the ceremony. "Nick wasn't officially a tribal member, because he was one generation too far removed," said Jacob La Plante, a close friend of Faas and a senior in sociology.

Faas is a descendant of the Petite family and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. "The elders of the tribes got together and made a traditional cedar grave-marker for Nick, and they haven't done that for anyone - period. It is a huge honor," LaPlante said.

Cedar is one of the most valuable and usable materials in Northwest coastal tradition. Carving cedar was a hobby for Faas that he shared with his grandfather.

"The effort and craftsmanship would have deeply moved Nick," said Molly Matthews. Matthews is a director at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for the Youth Education Program, with which Faas interned.

"There was a beautifully touching, traditional burial song and chant, and in the silence when it was done, it was as if a weight had lifted," said Katherine Allen, a senior in pre-construction engineering and a close friend of Faas.

During his involvement with the Confederated Tribes, Faas became involved with the Grand Ronde/Chinook Canoe Family, and made an annual six-day tribal canoe journey to the Muckleshoot Tribe in Auburn, Wash.

Members of his "canoe family" shared traditional canoe songs with the mourners.

Faas' fearlessness and loyalty to others was a part of his daily life. "He was flat-out willing to do whatever to make people smile," La Plante said.

La Plante told of a time when he was dared to jump in the Pacific Ocean at 1 a.m.

"It was freezing - middle of January, Oregon Coast freezing - and I didn't want to do it," La Plante said. "But Nick said, 'C'mon, dude. I'll do it with you!' and we just jumped. He didn't have to be asked to do anything."

The 24-year-old had just been accepted into the Sapsik'wala Masters in Education program at the University of Oregon and was looking forward to becoming a high school teacher.

"[Faas] was a bright person. He wrote one of the more passionate, evocative papers in [my] class on a death-related experience in his life," said professor Courtney Campbell, one of Faas' instructors. "I will not be able to forget his story."

Faas' passion for helping disadvantaged students or minorities was obvious, especially through his work with the Youth Education Program at the Confederated Tribes.

Matthews describes his college internship with them as "one of the most influential things Nick did for his community. Youth loved Nick… His imprint on our lives will be eternal."

Faas tutored students during and after school and served as a role model and mentor for the students, as well as a chaperone for many field trips and camps.

Several of the students who worked with Faas told stories at the ceremony of how he affected their lives.

The speakers at the service told stories of the compassion that Faas passed on to those he worked and shared time with.

"He was hard-looking," Allen said, referring to Faas' completely tattooed arms. "But he was a teddy bear, always surrounded by friends."

The tough 5-foot-10-inch, tattooed figure might have been intimidating, but it belied the deeper character of the person within: complex, highly intelligent, selfless thinker who chose his words carefully.

"He was a total badass," La Plante recalls. "But he made you think twice and look twice."

"Nick is hilarious," said Stephanie Kragness, a senior in education at Western Oregon University and a close friend of Faas. "Being a philosophy major, we often got into deep conversations about life… Everyone sought Nick's advice."

Two of Faas' best friends, Jordan Evans and Asa Kerr, both of Corvallis, agree that he was "the true definition of a friend. He wasn't violent or liked to fight, but… he was ready to stand up against injustice and protect his own, no matter what."

Friendship and relationships were important in Faas' life, and he demonstrated these values through the time and effort he put into everything that he did.

Faas made friends easily. With his charismatic personality and interesting appearance, it wasn't uncommon to see him striking up a conversation with random people on the sidewalk.

"Every moment with Nick was time well spent," Kragness said.

When Faas' grandfather gave a eulogy at the service, he spoke of the difference Faas made in the lives of others.

"[Even] his tattoos were comprised of words that reflected the values he wished to live by," Campbell said. "Courage, honor, wisdom. In that respect, his outstanding quality is that he walked his body talk."

At the open casket service held Sunday, Allen slipped a note inside, leaving her final thoughts with Faas, although his memory and the things that Faas taught her will always be with her.

La Plant and Allen feel that Faas left his friends and family with the message to "love every day, everything and everyone, as though you had always loved it."

Kerr and Evans found a quote by Shakespeare that they believe describes the way Faas lived his life: "My crown is in my heart, not on my head / Nor decked with diamonds or jewels, nor to be seen: / My crown is called contentment: / A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy."

Although it may not have been Faas' motto, the way he lived his life gives tribute to the quote.

Through his Native American dances to Gwen Stefani songs in the bowling alley, his charismatic personality that drew others to his friendship, his loves of laughing, singing and the Oakland Raiders, Faas followed his passion for his heritage and packed more into his 24 years than most people do in a lifetime.

One might say that Fass did, indeed, find his crown - not of diamonds or jewels, but of content, and at the end, of cedar.

Anneke Tucker, staff writer

news@dailybarometer.com