CCU remembers student killed while crossing the street

In the Johnson Auditorium on Coastal Carolina University’s campus, dozens of tearful students gathered Wednesday to remember the life of 19-year-old sophomore and finance major Ryan Bielawa.

“For as big as he was, his personality was even bigger,” said Adam French, Bielawa’s roommate. “He had a very infectious smile. You couldn’t help to stay mad at him. He was very charming, loved to talk to people.”

The former high school basketball player was killed when hit by a vehicle on October 29 as he tried to cross S.C. Highway 544 across from the Monarch Apartments near campus.

The 1 p.m. service opened with a prayer by Rev. Robertson Donehue of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church and ended with a sideshow of Bielawa’s life.

“The Ryan I know is - he was a good kid,” said French. “Always had smile on his face. Always loved to push my buttons but I did it right back to him so it was all right. He was just a great kid.”

French said he’ll “never forget” Bielawa.

“I’m certainly still in shock,” he said. “I don’t think it’s something I’ll ever get over. It’s really hard to comprehend, honestly.”

Bielawa was working part-time for Merrill Lynch, and had his eye on a full-time position when he graduated.

“Ryan was in an accelerated program where he was going to graduate and get his bachelor’s degree in three years and his master’s in four years,” said Bielawa’s supervisor Steve Starnes.

The 19-year-old would have been offered a full-time position as a financial manager when he graduated said Starnes, who added that despite the sudden loss, Bielawa would be “with them forever.”

“I think what always struck me about Ryan in my interactions with him is he was very grounded and he was willing to start at an entry-level position, willing to work hard,” said Starnes. “There was never any arrogance to him. He was very humble, and those are qualities that would have served him well. For me, the hardest thing about it is the missed potential and all the things that had ahead of him that were taken from him.”

Edward Lee Washington, 31, was arrested in connection with the incident and was charged with felony driving under the influence resulting in a death, and hit and run. He was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center where he’s still incarcerated and is being held on more than 75,000 bail.

This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 6:58 PM with the headline "CCU remembers student killed while crossing the street."