4A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAIN KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2007
OBITUARY
Family, friends remember student's life, achievements Aaron Caldwell recognized for friendships accomplishments achieved despite adversity
BY COURTNEY CONDRON
ccondron@kcsan.com
Friends and family remember Aaron Caldwell as someone who never met a stranger. For instance, when he approached a man in Fort Worth, Texas, because the man was wearing a KU hat, spent 45 minutes talking to him and ended the night at IHOP for breakfast with the man and his friends.
and his friends.
Aaron Caldwell,
Bedford, Texas,
senior, was found
dead in his apartment
Sunday.
Jason Benouared,
Caldwell's longtime friend and business partner,
said this was just one example of the way Aaron
would make friends with anyone.
"It was an interruption to his fire, but he never let it be an interruption. He went on and did the things he wanted to do."
"I've never seen anyone with more people skills than that guy," Benouraid said.
Karen Harrison, Aaron's mother said that "Aaron would go up and talk to anyone, anywhere about anything."
Bruce Caldwell, Aaron's father, said they received Aaron's phone book, and he had 300 to 400 friends in it. The family is calling every person in the phone book to notify them of Aaron's death.
Aaron had a seizure disorder that began when he was 13. Aaron couldn't drive until he went without a seizure for six months. He would have regained his license Wednesday. Because of the disorder, Aaron was very health conscious. He rarely drank alcohol, ate healthy and tried acupuncture and herbs to help his seizures.
"It's amazing that he had so many friends that he cherished," Bruce said.
"It was an interruption to his life, but he never let it be an interruption," Bruce said. "He went on and did the things he wanted to do"
BRUCE CALDWELL Aaron's father
The autopsy showed that Aaron's right coronary artery was 75 percent blocked, and a heart attack, seizure or both could have been
the cause to cause his death. The official lab report won't be available for two months.
Harrison said Aaron had been out with friends the night before he died, and they said he was having a good time and in good spirits.
Aaron traveled to several countries. He completed a semester at sea in 2005, and traveled to Africa, China, Vietnam, Japan and Europe.
"For a kid who couldn't drive, he still traveled the world," Bruce said.
Aaron, who majored in economics and minored in business, planned to go into business with
Benouared when he graduated in May. He and Benouared planned their business together for six years, and Aaron was in the process of buying half of the business that Benouared had already started. Aaron and Benouared started their first business together when Aaron was 18 years old.
"He really wanted to make something for himself," Benouared said. "He wanted a foundation for life before he jumped into anything. I had never met a more level-headed and goal-oriented guy."
Aaron also enjoyed dressing fashionably, cooking, attending concerts and watching "Seinfeld."
"He was just wonderful," Bruce said. "We couldn't ask for a better son. We never had a problem with him."
Aaron was a member of Phi Gamma Delta, and his family is asking that donations go toward the fraternity. Donations can be sent to Bruce's business, and then be donated to the fraternity. Bruce's address is 7622 Pebble Dr., Fort Worth, Texas 76118.
Services for Aaron will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary-Eudora Chapel. The visitation begins at 1 p.m.
Aaron is survived by his mother Karen Harrison, his father and stepmother, Bruce and Bonnie Caldwell, his sisters, Jaime Lynn Caldwell and Elena Speake and grandmothers, Judy Groves and MaryAnn Harrison.
Edited by Meghan Murphy
The New Hampshire St. Bistro, located at 811 New Hampshire St., is closing for good on Sunday. Owner Michael Levy said the restaurant wasn't making enough money to stay open.
Andrew Warker/KANSAN
Andrew Wacker/KANSAN
BUSINESS
Michelle Levy, Lawrence resident and wife of owner Michael Levy, enjoys a meal Wednesday with her parents, Don and Jene Heron, and her two children Hannah and Emma. "We were very sad," said Jane. "Very heartened that Michael has to close."
The New Hampshire St. Bistro 811 New Hampshire St., will close its doors for the final time Sunday at 3 p.m. The restaurant had been in business at its current location for about 13 months.
New Hampshire St. Bistro closes doors after 13 months
Beth Johnson. Lawrence Chamber of Commerce vice president of economic development, said that getting people downtown could be a struggle at times. She said that more economic development, such as office buildings, would likely help small restaurants because of the lunch-time crowds.
Chastity Romero-Latham, a 2006 alumna, began working at the restaurant only a couple of weeks ago. She was disappointed the restaurant was closing and said that she was looking for another job. She said Levy was proactive in helping his employees find new jobs.
The close of the restaurant marks the end for another small business in Lawrence. The Mass St. Deli closed in February, Molly McGee's closed in June, and Joe's Bakery closed last month.
Local restaurant one of many to shut down this year
Levy, meanwhile, said he was busy finalizing the details of closing the restaurant and hadn't yet begun looking for a new job.
Michael Levy, New Hampshire St. Bistro owner, said the restaurant wasn't generating enough revenue to survive.
the recent closings of Lawrence restaurants, several potential retail businesses could open in the coming months.
"We just didn't have the people
Edited by Rachel Bock
"It's too bad," he said. "I think we had a great restaurant. I feel bad for the customers and the employees."
Levy said that currently no one had planned to start up a new business in the building. Previously, the restaurant was in business for about five years at 6th and Wakara St, and it later had a location for about three years at the Kansas Union.
Jane Pennington, director of Downtown Lawrence, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that promotes the interests of the Downtown business district, said that despite
coming through the doors to pay the bills," he said.
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CRIME O.J. to face trial for sports memorabilia heist
LASVEGAS — OJ. Simpson must face trial on kidnapping, armed robbery and other charges stemming from a suspected court memorabilia heist, a justice of the peace ruled Wednesday.
Defense attorneys had argued during a preliminary hearing that the case was based on the accounts of con artists and crooks, and they asked for the charges to be dropped.
Justice of the Peace Joe M. Bonaventure ruled all charges in the 12-count complaint would remain against Simpson and co-dedefendants Clarence "C.J." Stewart and Charles "Charlie" Ehrlich.
"This is what we expected," Simpson told The Associated Press before he left the courtroom. "If I have any disappointment it's that I wish a jury was here. As always, I rely on the jury system."
Bonaventure acknowledged that the testimony of the witnesses was an issue to be weighed by the court and that the defense had raised questions of "bought" testimony. He said that there were a number of motive and credibility issues, but that they were "not so incredible or implausible" to keep the case from a jury.
Kidnapping convictions could result in a life sentence with possibility of parole. Armed robbery convictions would require some time in prison.
Associated Press
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