UA grad student dies

Arizona Daily Wildcat Photo courtesy of Dr. Lucy Ziurys Troy Pesch, UA chemistry and astronomy graduate student and the TA for the Chemistry 104a lab, died April 19. He was 28.

Pesch, a teaching assistant whose friends called him a "bright, enthusiastic young man," shot himself, according to a Tucson Police Department report.

His death came as a surprise to his friends and associates.

"Troy was always enthusiastic about his scientific work, always wanted to learn new things, travel to new places and learn how different people lived," said Lucy Ziurys, an associate professor of astronomy and Pesch's graduate adviser.

"I'm going to miss a bright, enthusiastic young man," she said.

Steven Brown, a freshman lab coordinator for the Chemistry Department, said students in Pesch's 104a lab had good working relationships with him.

"He respected his students and gave them a good effort - he was very concerned about his students' well-being and the education they received in his class," Brown said.

"He was such an upbeat guy - definitely more of a friend than a teacher," said Sarah Stewart, an undeclared freshman in Pesch's lab section.

Pesch is remembered for his sense of humor and interest in animals, motorcycles and exotic beers.

He worked as a chef before coming to the University of Arizona and had his pilot's license.

Pesch received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Colorado State University in 1995 and was a native of Houston.

"Troy made friends easily and always had a smile on his face," Ziurys said.

Veronica Taramillo, a doctoral student in chemistry, said going to his lab is now a bittersweet experience for her.

"He was such a good scientist and a good people person," Taramillo said. "His lab just seems empty without him."

Services for Pesch will be held in Texas and Colorado.