Dear Outdoors Club community,
It is with great sadness that we write to you today to share the loss of ODC member and former officer Will Lankford, class of 2025. He passed away Sunday, May 3rd, in a kayaking accident on the Great Falls on the Potomac River. During his years at UVA and after his graduation, Will was a treasured part of the Outdoors Club community. His absence will be deeply felt.
Here are some words by Ed Aten, former president, long-time shrezident, and good friend of Will:
It’s impossible to summarize Will and what he meant to all of us. He was an officer, a whitewater advisor, a trip leader, a member of the PBR committee, and treasurer. He was stoked on the club from the very beginning and on meeting people who loved being outside. I met him paddleboarding at Creekathon our first year, and he knew about a draw stroke and a pry. I had no idea what those were, but I wanted to, and I wanted to know him better. By that first NRGE in 2021, he had grown a moustache, led a rafting trip already, and made friends with the good people of the club. He would attend all four NRGEs during his four years at UVA. Will led so many kayak trips and helped bring whitewater back to ODC.
Will did what he wanted to and what he thought was important. You couldn’t make him show up for every meeting, although he did most of the time. He led the trips he liked and brought his friends along. He would pack his truck to the gills with gear and bring it back and forth from the whitewater locker.
I don’t want to be writing this. I’d rather be getting married to Will Lankford in front of the Shrack at YAR or causing chaos one choo-choo at a time. Or following him to the corner. Or loading his truck up with 6 boats and a couple Bodo’s bagels so John can drive us to Richmond on Sunday morning. I’d rather be picking P-cards with Will while “I Look Good” by O.T. Genasis plays. I’d rather be running along Pipeline on the James River, setting shuttle, as the sun dazzles the water. I’d rather be on the way to Durty Nelly’s or on the way home. I’d rather be driving to the New River Gorge, Moab, or Ragged, getting there faster than everyone else. I’d rather be watching him surf or watching him dance.
It would be impossible to forget Will, so we won’t. Remember him when you’re in the water, boating, swimming, or paddleboarding. Remember him when you drink PBR or Busch Light or a mysterious orange liquid in a fiery bottle. Remember him when you drive fast. Remember him on bouldering pads and in the gym. Remember him when you show up for your friends or rally them to go out. Remember him when your room or house is full of people. Remember him on morning runs, on late nights, on sunny afternoons spent outside. Remember him at a good concert or eating good food. Remember him while watching Surf’s Up or Sassy the Sasquatch. Remember him in Virginia and New York and West Virginia and D.C and Idaho and Utah and all the way across this country, wherever you find yourself. Remember him on the James River and in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Do something that Will Lankford would do. Be generous with whatever you’ve got, be it a big truck or a butter chicken recipe or paddling knowledge or a couch to crash on or a case of beer or a cigarette or an invitation.
Know the people near you, make time for them.
Tell the stories of your life and the stories of his. Keep in the details. Run fast, wear your shoes til you can see the socks, and wear your socks til the holes have holes. Dedicate yourself quietly to a few things. Talk some shit, be kind, be rowdy.
Will Lankford is with us all the time. I’m certain of it.
– Ed Aten, Class of 2025
We’ve started an online board to share some stories and thoughts about Will. Drink a beer and tell someone that story too, don’t let it only be online. We will have a small bonfire at the Shrack for folks who knew him. Please reach out to us for the details. Below you can find grief resources from UVA and a full report which contains more details of the accident.
Will’s ODC years:
Trip Leader 2021-2025
Officer 2022-2025
Whitewater Advisor 2022-2025
Treasurer 2022 – 2023
Online board for Will: https://recocards.com/board/oth-will-146636288755
Will, we’ll see you downstream. Save a spot on Pillow Rock for us.
Peace, so much love, and dirt,
The Officers & Former Officers
Grief resources through UVA:
https://studentaffairs.virginia.edu/system/files/Tips-Cope-with-Grief.pdf
https://studentaffairs.virginia.edu/system/files/CAPS_Questions-Grief.pdf
Full Description of Events: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JSz9P1DN4AyXTrTm9pb6Q8g-vVtRAMpCcCz-XeVFls0/edit?usp=sharing