Remembering Julia Hyman
Julia Hyman had an infectious smile. Riverdale was a place she could always call home. As an integral part of Riverdale’s community, she will be remembered forever.
Julia Hyman entered Riverdale in the Lower School and graduated with the class of 2016. She moved on to Cornell, graduating summa cum laude. After which, she began working for Rudin Management. Unfortunately, on July 28, a gunman wound up in her office and tragically ended her life. She was the fourth life he took that day.
Julia was greatly loved by students and faculty at Riverdale. She was dedicated and passionate about everything she did. Even as she worked hard to accomplish her own goals, she never stopped giving her time, love, and energy to her friends and her community. Milton Sipp, Head of the Middle School, said she “embodied the mind, character, and community of Riverdale”. She is someone to look up to; she is a reminder that the best way to live is by leading with your heart, as she inspired everyone around her to be a better person.
Julia was “the quintessential student-athlete,” said John Pizzi, Head of Athletics. She was a tri-varsity athlete of soccer, swim, and lacrosse, and she was chosen to be captain of all three her senior year, which Mr. Sipp remarked, “is understandable,” and Mr. Pizzi articulated was “rare”. But Julia “loved every part of being an athlete…[she] was the happiest kid on the field, every time she stepped on the field…always smiling, always competing”. She was a great teammate, captain, and player. She showcased what it means to be sportsmanlike and competitive at the same time.
To recognize Julia’s impact on Riverdale’s athletics, the athletic department has honored her in multiple ways. Most significantly, they renamed the Founders’ Award to the “Julia Hyman Founders Award”. This award is given to the female athlete “who best demonstrated outstanding ability, leadership, sportsmanship, and the qualities of hard work, an excellent attitude, and a responsibility to her teammates and school.” Julia received this award her senior year, and Mr. Pizzi believes “it will be even more special for our girls to get an award named after Julia.” We also hold a moment of silence for her at the start of girls’ varsity soccer games, and did for boys’ and girls’ soccer games at Homecoming. Both boys’ and girls’ soccer, swim, and lacrosse teams will also wear her initials on their uniforms in upcoming seasons.
It is clear that Julia had a large and lasting impact on Riverdale’s community. Mr. Sipp and Mr. Pizzi recall many stories from her time at Riverdale, despite it being 9 years ago. But Riverdale’s immense love for her makes sense because she loved Riverdale greatly. Even after graduating, she came back to support her teams. Last year, she came back to support Riverdale at Homecoming. Mr. Sipp recalls, “Her smile was always there. That was the first thing you saw, … she always led with her smile.”
Julia was an inspiration to everyone. Mr. Sipp feels “that she lived her life to the fullest, and it was tragically cut short. But she packed a lot in, in the short amount of time.” The message he wants students to take away from her life and her legacy is to “just live your life with a giant smile, have fun, be dedicated and committed to what you are doing.” Julia will continue to live on in our hearts and our minds. Alexis Brown, leader of Students Demand Action, a club with the goal of ending gun violence, said, “One way of remembering Julia would be to fight for the cause that ended her life and to fight so that doesn’t happen to anyone else.” Julia’s legacy will never be forgotten, and she will always be loved by the Riverdale community.
