Anthony Chung (COL ’21), 22, died from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident in Madison, Wis. on Sept. 17. 

Chung, who went by Tony, was double majoring in government and economics and minoring in philosophy. While at Georgetown University, he helped to co-found the Georgetown Midwest Club and was an active member of the Asian American Student Association and the Parliamentary Debate Team. 

Chung dedicated his life to improving the lives of others, and he challenged others to do the same, according to Andrew DeFriece (COL ’20), a close friend.  

“Tony was truly a unique soul, and he is best described through the impressions he would leave with those he chose to spend his time with,” DeFriece wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Every day of his life, Tony actively lived out his pursuit to bring justice and peace to the underserved and oppressed, and he always strived to incorporate those he was close to in his fight for a myriad of social justice initiatives.” 

Born and raised in Madison, Wis., Chung began to show a passion for government in high school as a member of his high school’s debate team and a student representative for his district to the Madison School Board. Chung was also a talented cellist and pianist.

Chung was a compassionate person who cared about his friends and loved ones and was a pleasure to work with, according to Vanessa Corcoran, his advising dean.

“The longer he spent at Georgetown, the more he really embraced everything about the liberal arts curriculum. He started off as a government major, but as he progressed, he started to expand,” Corcoran said in a Zoom interview with The Hoya. 

Fellow Georgetown debate team member Cayleigh Soderholm (SFS ’20) remembered Chung as a talented debater and an amazing friend who brightened everyone’s day in an email she wrote to The Hoya.

“Tony was a great addition to the team; he was relentlessly fun-loving and had a fantastic sense of humor,” Soderholm wrote. “His presence in car rides to tournaments brightened everyone’s days, and his natural talent more than made up for his easygoing approach to debate.” 

Chung was always himself and took interest in others, according to Nicholas Cramer (MSB ’20), who served as president of the Midwest Club.

“Tony was the most humble, joyous, genuine person I’ve ever been lucky enough to know,” Cramer wrote in an email to The Hoya. “He treated everyone as a long-lost friend. Whether you hadn’t seen each other for a whole summer or just a whole afternoon, Tony was always quick to greet you with a big hug and an even bigger smile. He was the rare type of person that could bring an infectious happiness into every room he entered, and he will be missed beyond what words can describe.” 

Chung left a lasting impression on the people and communities he came across, and he strived to understand everyone he met, according to DeFriece. 

“Tony would always leave those around him feeling genuinely seen. He took the time to consider the complex backgrounds of those close to him, and always strived to acknowledge how their experiences influenced their actions and worldview,” DeFriece wrote.“Tony’s distinctive philosophies about how he wished to impact the world and those he was close to have left a resounding influence upon the communities he has left behind.” 

Tony is survived by his parents, his grandparents and his partner Rory Demick. The official GoFundMe page for his memorial costs has raised more than $3000.