I retreated to my house on a sunny beautiful cloudless day after a day at the beach only to be confronted with news from my mother that would turn my day into one of the gloomiest and darkest ones I have yet to experience. I was informed that a longtime friend of mine had been killed in a car accident.
This past June, an extremely close-knit senior class graduated from high school, a class in which most everyone knew each other prior to elementary school. This letter is to express the deepest of sorrow and sense of remorse from the bottom of the heavy hearts of each and every member of the graduating class of 2003 in response to the untimely death of a dear friend of ours, Justin Helman.
I, for one, knew the fun loving and gentle Justin since our pre-school days at Malibu Jewish Center, and have remained friends with him since. I know I speak for not only myself but the rest of the senior class that perhaps it was Justin’s warm and welcoming smile that provided a simultaneous attraction the minute one’s eyes were exposed to the lips that framed the bright and eccentric white teeth. There wasn’t a hurtful bone in Justin’s anatomy, and this proved to be evident day after day by his friendliness and huge heart. One of the last times I saw Justin was over Thanksgiving break at a reunion party where the entire class was reunited. As I stepped out of my car, the first person I see walking toward me was none other than Justin. As we approached each other, I called out “what’s up man!” The reply I got was one that began with the huge smile proceeded by a “Yo Dom!” (Dom was the nickname he called me by) greeting, with an exuberance that was masked by a horse and scratchy voice. I was quick to respond in a mocking fashion asking how he had been in a similar distraught voice. Justin then told me he was just recovering from the flu. Well sure enough, upon my return to college after Thanksgiving I came down with the same flu. I saw that Justin was online and told him that karma had caught up with me and that I had been struck by the contagious sickness. The first words he responded with were all the medications I should be taking and when to take them. Just one of the many incidents where Justin’s huge heart proved itself to be true.
I believe that there is one aspect of Justin we will all remember him by, and it is one we should all strive to obtain, this being Justin’s ability to simply enjoy life at every given moment, approaching each day with an easy going, laidback approach. Nothing ever seemed to get Justin down, he was truly genuine and a delight of a pleasure to be accompanied by.
Deepest condolences with the strongest and largest of hugs and kisses go out from the Malibu High Senior Class of 2003 to each and every member of Justin’s family. We wish you nothing but the most ultimate of strengths, and send you all the love and prayers our hearts have to give. We are all here for you in any way need be.
Hey Justin,
If you are up there my friend and are watching me write this or can hear me as I think aloud, I, as well as all of your other fellow classmates and friends will always remember you for the humble and friendliest young man that you were. We love you and miss you dearly and thank you for all the good memories you have provided us with, and know that our hearts and eyes will smile with every thought of you.
With utmost love and deep sorrow, Malibu High School Graduating Class of 2003.
Oliver Damavandi