The scene at St. Charles East on June 3 probably would have pleased former basketball star Justin Hardy.
The gym where Hardy experienced many of his greatest moments in the sport was filled with family, friends and onetime teammates wearing their favorite jerseys and telling stories about him.
“You feel the presence of Justin the moment you walk in the gym,” said Pat Juckem, Hardy’s coach at Washington University. “You feel it. You see it. It’s out here in front of us, and it is truly powerful.”
Hardy, who died May 29 at age 22, wanted a celebration of his life, not a somber affair. That’s the way he lived before and after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in April 2021.
Hardy took control of his remaining days. He graduated with high honors a semester early with a double major in accounting and finance. He played his senior season at Washington while undergoing chemotherapy, and his story went national.
“Once he came to terms with his diagnosis, he tried to get the negativity out of his life,” St. Charles East boys basketball coach Patrick Woods said. “He tried to flip the script. Rather than ‘why me,’ ‘why not me’ was his thinking.”
Hardy made a point to do what he was passionate about, one of the reasons his story resonated with so many people.
“He gave up the idea of perfection, no longer afraid of failure,” Juckem said. “There’s so much negativity in our world. He said, ‘I’m going to be relentlessly positive. I’m going to look at circumstances with an optimistic perspective.'”
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Washington’s basketball program had a front-row seat.
“Even during the darkest days imaginable, Justin found a way to stay positive and not let the situation define him,” former Washington teammate Jon Arenas said. “His story and his attitude, every day, inspired millions. The strength of Justin and his whole family sparked new mindsets, fueled better purpose, inspired strength and spread love across the country.
“He was an All-American person.”
Hardy wasn’t alone after his diagnosis. He allowed everyone inside his journey, an indication to those closest to him of his character.
“In the way that Justin sacrificed his own privacy and precious time to share his story with the world so that maybe just one person could be touched, he chose love,” Jack Nolan said in the opening prayer June 3. “God, your gift of Justin Hardy to the world has made us all better people and the world a better place.”
Hardy’s older sister Jackie made a stirring speech, outlining 12 traits that defined his legacy. There was a common theme to all 12.
“Justin is the perfect example of the difference between existing and living,” she said. “Existing is when life happens to us. Living is when we happen to life. Justin lived.
“Whether it was his deep friendships or just hearing his story, he happened to all of our lives. He touched our hearts, made us stronger and made us more positive, compassionate and vivacious individuals. Because of the impact Justin had on this world, he will always be living.”
Woods brought up a story in which he mentioned the late Jim Valvano. In his famous 1993 speech at the ESPY Awards show, the former North Carolina State men’s basketball coach implored people to laugh, think and cry every day.
As Hardy would have wanted, all three happened in that gym on June 3.
“Justin has always been ‘Hardy Strong,'” Jackie Hardy said. “The people closest to him have always known that he’s just built different. As his sister, I am so grateful that the rest of the world gets to share in my admiration for Justin and his consistency in being ‘Hardy Strong.’
“His legacy is complex and evolving, and I’m going to continue to see different ways that Justin impacts me.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.