Jeremy Michael Herbstritt

Jeremy Michael Herbstritt, a master’s student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, loved to hike, kayak, bike, ski, and work on the family farm. Born in St. Mary’s, Pa., in November 1979, his family later moved to Bellefonte, Pa., where he grew up on the Herbstritt farm.

Jeremy attended elementary school at St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Bellefonte and then the Bellefonte Area Middle and High Schools before graduating in 1998. He went on to Pennsylvania State University, where he received a bachelor of science in biochemistry and molecular biology with a minor in chemistry in 2003. He later returned to Penn State to pursue a second B.S. in civil engineering (2006). He graduated with honors.

While at Virginia Tech, Jeremy served as a teaching assistant for the Fluid Mechanics for Civil and Environmental Engineers class. Jeremy was awarded the Sussman Scholarship for summer 2007 and was planning to conduct research on the Lower Roanoke River in North Carolina as part of the project and thesis he was working on.

Throughout high school and college, Jeremy worked for the Guided Path Dairy Farm in Bellefonte. Jeremy also worked for the Centre County, Pa., Extension office, where he collected mosquitoes to be tested for the West Nile virus. Jeremy is credited with the discovery of the first West Nile virus-infected mosquito in Centre County.

While growing up Jeremy was involved in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was an active member of the Centre County 4-H Gold Bullets Club, the Centre County Sheep Club, and the Centre County Beef Club. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 1314.

Jeremy was an avid runner, competing in the Pocono Marathon and the Steamtown Marathon, as well as the Tussey Mountainback 50-mile relay three years in a row with his siblings and friends. Jeremy was also actively involved in helping his sister, Jennifer, train for the Boston Marathon.

Jeremy was a phenomenal friend, brother, son and dedicated teacher. He will forever be loved and missed by all. His amazing life will never be forgotten. A memorial 5K will be run annually by his friends and family. We want his compassionate heart and passion for life to live on.