Michael Pohle

His friends described him as a goofy giant who would set his alarm to wake up early on Saturdays to catch the morning cartoons, but made sure to do 50 pushups before they started and someone who always put the needs and concerns of others above his own.

Michael Steven Pohle, Jr., 23, was the kind of guy who knew every quote from every movie or TV show and had a memorable laugh, yet still had a quiet determination about him that friends described as admirable.

The senior from Flemington, N.J., was just months away from graduating with a degree in biochemistry, and had immersed himself in the job search process.

Among other pursuits, Pohle was the head bartender at the Nerv Restaurant & Lounge, and also played midfield for the school’s club lacrosse team.

Nathan Milunec and Sean Simmons, were club lacrosse teammates with Pohle, and roomed with him during trips for away games.

“He was always proud of how hard he worked,” said Simmons, a junior ACIS major. “Even though he never directly said it, you could just tell that he was proud of the work he was able to do in his really hard classes.”

Simmons and Milunec recounted a time in which a large group of them organized a kickball game, and Pohle showed up with enough Kentucky Fried Chicken to feed the whole group, and hrefused to be compensated for it.

“He always cared about other people before himself, and just trying to make other people happy all the time,” said Milunec, a junior civil engineering major.

The team held a moment of silence in honor of Pohle before their Southeastern Lacrosse Conference tournament game, and wore stickers with Pohle’s initials on their helmets along with a black ribbon sticker.

A graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School, the school lowered its flags to half-staff, and also observed a moment of silence at the end of the day on April 18 in honor of Pohle.

“Michael was a beloved member of his graduating class at Central. A well-respected student athlete, he was a valued member of the football and lacrosse teams during his time with us. As we remember this outstanding young man, our hearts go out to his family and friends who are suffering a tremendous loss,” according to a statement on the school’s website.

In addition to the tributes during tournament play, the club lacrosse team also created an award in his honor to be given to the player who shows the most dedication in their actions off the field.