The Department of Political Science & International Affairs suffered a mournful loss when Vincent M. Alvarez, a 22‑year-old student, passed away on November 5, 2016, during the first semester of his senior year. Vincent was enrolled in the pre-law concentration.

His unexpected death shocked those who knew him, given his apparent health and vitality. He enjoyed running, hiking, biking, and walking his dog Ivan, according to his fiancée, Abigail C. “Abby” Paul. Vincent loved camping and being outdoors.

At the memorial service, Vincent’s father Roly explained that Vincent had such a low level of body fat that the wall of his heart had thickened to the point of being a fatal condition. Healthy individuals who play sports or exercise frequently develop thicker-than-normal heart walls. “An extremely low body-fat percentage can affect the cardiovascular system’s ability to function normally,” according to cardiologist Kevin Campbell.

At Creekview High School in Canton, Vincent was captain of the ROTC Raider Team, in which capacity he offered agility training, rope courses, and other demanding training programs for cadets. Vincent and Abby were members of the high school’s track team together. At one session of track practice, Vincent‑‑trying to get Abby’s attention by showing off his hurdle skills‑‑tripped over a hurdle, breaking his foot which necessitated surgery and put an end to Vincent’s plan to eventually serve in the U. S. Army.

Political Science professor Barry D. Friedman said that Vincent, in several of Dr. Friedman’s classes, had proved to be a conscientious and intelligent student. At the first class meeting of the “American Political Theory” course after Vincent’s death, he and the students discussed how polite and considerate Vincent always was. Dr. Carl D. Cavalli and his students in the “Road to the White House” course observed a moment of silence, as did the attendees at the Political Science Student Association’s weekly Crossfire event.

Vincent was also enrolled during the fall semester in Dr. Beth M. Rauhaus’ “State and Local Government” course. Dr. Rauhaus arranged for a book, Political Philosophy, Empathy, and Political Justice, to be added to the UNG library’s collection in Vincent’s memory. The bookplate appears at the left.

Dr. Charles H. “Trey” Wilson III, Vincent’s faculty advisor, reminisced about a conversation that the two of them had about law school. “He seemed pretty excited about pursuing a career in law,” Dr. Wilson recalled.

Vincent maintained an attractive and comfortable apartment for himself and Abby in Dahlonega. They enjoyed cooking dinner together and, while Vincent would play video games, Abby would read or knit. “We were like an old married couple,” Abby said. They had not yet determined the year in which they would get married, but they knew that it would take place on February 23, the anniversary of their first date. Abby described Vincent as “an amazing young man, a perfect gentleman, kind and compassionate, who never had an unkind word to say about anyone.” She added, “They don’t make guys like that any more.”

Abby, a sophomore who plans to earn a degree at UNG in teacher education or nursing, remembered an occasion when she was feeling anxious. Vincent comforted her as he always did. “He was always by my side and knew exactly what I needed, just a hug or smile. Loving him taught me that life is beautiful.”

In addition to his father, Abby, and Ivan, Vincent is survived by his mother Denise Yarbrough, his siblings Michael and Lexi, his maternal grandmother Sandy DeMaio, his paternal grandfather Remigio Alvarez, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
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