For months, Jeff Russ had been planning to go to Electric Zoo, the electronic dance music festival in New York City.

Russ, 2012 Syracuse University graduate, had gone to almost all the major EDM festivals, his sister Melissa Russ said. His most recent road trip for electronic music was on Labor Day weekend, when Russ had travelled to Randall’s Island in New York City.

“He and his friends had been counting down for months,” said Melissa Russ. “He was very excited.”

Russ died Aug. 31 after attending the Electric Zoo music festival, leading to the cancellation of the last day of the festival.

He had attended the event with several of his fraternity brothers from Sigma Chi and friends from Rochester, the New York Times reported.

“We’re very saddened by what transpired. It’s obviously a tragic loss and we’re sorry for that,” said Hank Suominen, president and treasurer of the Metropolitan Syracuse Sigma Chi Alumni Association. “Everybody referred to him as a gentle spirit with a big heart, and a friend that was always available. I understood him to be a very well-regarded guy in the fraternity. We extend our condolences to his family for their loss.”

Russ’s death has devastated the Sigma Chi chapter at SU, said Michael Dunn, executive director of the Sigma Chi International Fraternity.

“There’s that feeling of invincibility when you’re young. The stark reality of someone passing away is shocking,” he said. “[Sigma Chi] is going through a very tough time, and on behalf of all the fraternity, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to those friends and relatives that he’s touched in his short lifetime.”

Popular EDM artists had also sent their condolences to Russ’ family on Twitter, such as Tiesto, Krewella and Dada Life, the same musicians Jeff Russ had looked forward to seeing at the music festival.

Russ’ sister, Melissa Russ, said SU was very important to him.

“He loved SU,” she said. “All the friends and the times he had there were very important to him. It was the best years of his life.”

Published on September 4, 2013 at 1:37 am

Contact Alfred: alng@syr.edu

@alfredwkng