Courtesy
Kyle Guyer, third from left, was the drummer for local pop-punk band Easy Target.
Guyer
continued from page 1
planning on graduating from the
School of Journalism and Com
munication in June, has also left
his mark on campus. Journalism
Dean Tim Gleason said the jour
nalism school is mourning the stu
dent’s death.
“Everyone in the school is griev
ing at his death, and our hearts go
out to his family and friends,”
Gleason said.
Assistant Adjunct Professor Re
becca Force had Guyer as a stu
dent, and also worked with him on
Duck U, a University television
show where Guyer was a music
critic. Guyer was one of the stu
dents who originally started Duck
U this year. Force described Guyer
as smart, talented, charming and a
great student.
“He was an energetic, delightful,
creative, funny person,” she said.
“It’s a real loss. ... This is just
heartbreaking.”
Friends said when Guyer wasn’t
in school, he was either working
with children at a YMCA summer
camp or playing drums with his
band, Easy Target. Band member
and close friend Jake Portrait,
Dan Portrait’s brother, said one of
his best memories of Guyer was
last summer when the band
toured for 10 days up and down
the West Coast.
“I always called him the ‘soul
stamper,’” he said. “Anybody he
touched, he graced. He had a lust
for life.”
Jake Portrait said that despite
the tragic circumstance of Guyer’s
death, it is exciting to see how
much love Guyer has spread
throughout his 23 years. After
graduation, he said, Guyer was
planning on moving to Portland to
pursue “the creative side of him.”
Beyond his love for music, Guyer
also had a passion for children. Eric
Guyer laughed about how the biggest
problem Guyer faced at summer
camp was that half the children
wanted him as a counselor.
“He had the ability to make a 7
year-old abuse victim feel like they
were the king of the world,” he said.
Dan Portrait added that even
though Guyer is dead, his memo
ries will still live on.
“I don’t think Kyle left a hole —
because he left us with so much
love and so many memories,” he
said. “He taught us so many things,
like what it is to be a friend and
what it is to love people.”
Jake Portrait said that another
one of his favorite memories of
Guyer is when he and his friends
would get together just to laugh
and talk about life.
Susan Guyer said Guyer still vol
unteered during the school year at
the YMCA After School Program in
Eugene.
After Guyer’s death, his friends
compiled a card to give to Susan,
which said things like “Kyle
ODE WORLDWIDE
www.dailyem0rald.com
touched many lives,” and, “We’ve
all lost a piece of ourselves.”
Susan Guyer said that even
though her heart is breaking, she
awaits the day she will be reunited
with her son.
“We know Kyle is tucked away
safely in heaven,” she said. “And
we look forward to the hope of
heaven and the reunion with Kyle.
He was truly the light of our life.”
Contact the reporter
atalishaughnessy@dailyemerald.com.
Sacred Heart treated
Guyer before his death
An autopsy is expected today
as police investigate the cause
of death of the 23-year-old
senior journalism major
Ali Shaughnessy
Environment/Science/Technology Reporter
Friends of University senior Kyle
Kristopher Guyer found him dead
Sunday morning after attending his
graduation party the night before.
Guyer, 23, was majoring in electronic
media with a focus in video produc
tion and was going to graduate from
the University’s School of Journalism
and Communication on June 14.
According to a press release from
the Eugene Police Department, Guy
er spent Saturday night celebrating
his upcoming graduation with 20 to
25 friends. After the barbecue, Guy
er went to Fathom’s Bar, located un
der Pegasus Pizza.
While at the bar, Guyer burned
his hand when a flaming drink
spilled on him. He was treated for
bums at Sacred Heart Medical Cen
ter shortly after.
Guyer’s mother, Susan, said that her
son was given drugs at the hospital.
"He was given IV and
medication in the
emergency room. It's
an ongoing
investigation as to what
exactly happened."
Susan Guyer
Kyle Guyer's mother
“He was given IV and medication
in the emergency room,” she said.
“It’s an ongoing investigation as to
what exactly happened.”
An autopsy is expected to be per
formed today, so it is not yet clear
what medicine he ingested.
Sacred Heart spokesman Brian Ter
rett could not comment on the case.
“We’re not at liberty to talk about
anyone’s medical treatment unless
they sign a release,” he said, adding
that the Emerald’s phone call was the
first he had heard of it.
Guyer returned to his house early
Sunday morning and went to bed,
where his roommates discovered his
body shortly before 8 a.m. According
to EPD reports, there is no indica
tion of foul play, and the exact cause
of death is still unknown.
Guyer’s brother Eric would not
comment on whether Guyer took
pain medication, but he did stress
his family’s gratitude for the friends
who took care of Guyer that night.
“It’s always an extreme tragedy
when you seek medical attention and
you still have a negative outcome,”
Eric Guyer said. “Finding fault won’t
bring him back, but hopefully it can
avoid hurt in the future.”
Contact the reporter
atalishaughnessy@dailyemerald.com.
News editor Brook Reinhard contributed
to this report
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