Clay Hunt

Message from the President 

April 4, 2011

Dear LMU Community:

I am saddened to tell you that Clay Hunt, a sophomore physical and occupational therapy major, died Thursday, March 31, 2011. Clay was 28 years old.

Clay came to LMU in fall 2009 after a distinguished career in the Marine Corps. Clay was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in 2007 by a sniper during combat in Anbar Province, Iraq. He continued in the military, serving honorably until his discharge in 2009. During his time at LMU, Clay continued his commitment to serving others. Together with his friend Jake Wood and others, Clay co-founded Team Rubicon, an early response team for natural disaster relief. Clay and Team Rubicon helped build facilities and ease the suffering of people in Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake. Clay also went to Chile to aid quake victims. He was active as well in Ride2Recovery, which raises money for struggling wounded veterans.

Clay’s friends at Team Rubicon and at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America have noted his long battle with depression and mourned this compassionate, dedicated man.

Clay is survived by a large extended family and many friends. A funeral service was held today in Houston and an on-campus memorial is being planned. The family has requested memorial contributions be made in Clay’s name to Team Rubicon, P.O. Box 7476, Santa Monica, CA 90406, or Ride2Recovery, 23679 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA 91302.

Please keep Clay and his friends and family in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,
 

David W. Burcham
President