Smart, kind, generous, goofy, loved
A kind, protective older brother to sisters Colleen and Amy, Andy had a keen intellect, a unique sense of humor, and a full heart. His sister Amy recounts that Andy was her role model: “I always looked up to him, I felt he could do no wrong, and he always seemed brave.”
Andy was goofy, loving, and devoted to his family and friends. Growing up in Houston, Andy played video games and ice hockey, and he loved music. He played guitar so well in his youth that his dad once mistook his playing for the radio. As Andy got older, he developed a deep love for skiing—regularly hitting the advanced slopes in New Mexico in his beloved “ski-baru,” the Subaru he purchased to replace his sports car to get up the mountains easier. He was also a stellar cook, known for his unforgettable spicy stir-fries, and he enjoyed attending sporting events with his friends.
During Andy’s childhood, trips to St. Louis for weeks each summer to visit extended family were a highlight, filled with zoo trips, museum visits, baseball games, and bonding with cousins, Kyle and Sean. Andy was close to his mother, Peggy, and dad and stepmom, Tim and Mary; and he was a fantastic uncle to Adeline, Anita, Elias and Ezra. When he moved away from his immediate family in Texas back to New Mexico where he had attended pharmacy school, his tight-knit group of friends were his family.
Andy was extremely intelligent. A pop culture aficionado, he “could site facts like he had a photographic memory,” and he was constantly quoting movies he’d watched. Andy studied biology at the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of New Mexico in 2012. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill, he worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Most recently, Andy was overseeing experimental treatments for terminally ill patients as an Investigational Drugs Pharmacist at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Additionally, he has more than ten publications in the field of drug development, including four original research articles.
Andy’s struggle with addiction came as a shock to his family, who believed him to be a social drinker. His death from ethanol abuse may have been tied to undiagnosed depression. The family never had the chance to support Andy through it. Looking back, there were times when his mood was affected and he could be irritable and on edge, though he was quick to apologize for it. “I’ll always wonder if the outcome would be different had he shared the struggle with us,” Amy stated. Since Andy’s death, Amy’s views on substance use disorder have changed. She now uses anti-stigma language and tries to live more intentionally. “That’s the best way I can carry his spirit forward,” she said.
Andy had many dreams. He wanted to travel more and had gotten his first passport shortly before he died. “We talked about becoming independently wealthy, retiring early, and spending our time however we’d like,” Amy said. Andy also wanted to find a partner to share life with.
Andy was incredibly loyal and touched many lives during his short time on Earth. He will live on through those he impacted in both his personal and professional lives. Andy will be remembered for his ability to include others and lift everyone around him higher, no matter the situation.
Andy’s sister, Amy, provided the information for this narrative.
August 27, 1986-April 9, 2024-Age 37
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
