Anyone who met Benjamin Eli Gilbert was affected by him. Whether you knew him for many years or met him for five minutes, Ben was sure to leave a lasting impression. He was always more concerned with others’ happiness than his own, and we will forever honor and adore him for that.

Ben was a socialite. He lit up every room he walked into. He was always ready to have a good time and even more ready to make people laugh. Ben was exceptional; he was irreplaceable. No one will ever come close to Ben. His tireless wit, his breathtaking beauty and his undeniable magnetism made him who he was.

Ben lived and felt with intensity, and anyone who knew him was so blessed to be a part of that.

As his mother put it, Ben was “like a shooting star in the skies, bright and beautiful, but not quite like anything else you have ever seen or experienced.” How will we remember Ben? We will remember Ben by his energy, his passion, his humor, his heart, his dancing and his gurgling laughter. We all wanted more of him, but what he did give us, we will forever cherish. We love and miss you Ben.