(H/T Angry Asian Man)
Stanford alumnus Daniel Ha ’10, who worked as an iOS developer at local start-up Metromile, went missing two weeks ago on Halloween evening; tragically, his body was discovered earlier this week on November 11 in the waters of San Francisco Bay near pier 22. Ha was reported missing after he was last seen by a roommate at around 8pm on October 31st. Ha’s family reportedly drove down to San Francisco from their home in British Columbia and organized multiple searches for Ha that included members of the local and Stanford community, before his body was recovered.
On the morning of November 11, a ferry captain called police to report a body in the San Francisco Bay. Although the body’s facial features were indistinguishable, clothing, cell phone and a wallet belonging to Ha was discovered with the body leading officials to the initial conclusion it is Ha. An official report and identification are still pending from the medical examiner’s office.
Ha’s family do not believe that Ha’s death was a result of a suicide: Ha’s brother says Ha had scheduled a doctor’s appointment for the following day, and had left notes to himself regarding scheduled events and chores. Ha also did not leave a suicide note.
Ha is remembered fondly by friends and family. Ha’s brother, Joseph Ha, said that Dan had a “huge heart and a brilliant mind”.
As a Stanford student, Ha balanced his studies in computer science with serving as co-president of the 2010 class, all while co-founding a non-profit called StartX, which has helped Stanford students launch over 100 start-up companies. He also participated in an on-campus a capella group called Talisman, which is inspired by South African music. On-campus, Ha is described as a natural leader and a good friend.
Koren Bakkegard, associate dean of residential education, worked with Ha for new student orientation after his freshman year. “He was like everybody’s little brother and we loved him so much,” she said.
Ha was learning to cook that summer, and went by the handle OC Top Chef on the orientation coordinator walkie talkies. “The other orientation coordinators were teasing him for all the experiments he had put them through,” she said. “He had this exuberance for life and this cheerfulness and a shine from within.”
Ha’s resident adviser freshman year, Jonathan Jourdane, remembered Ha as a gentle friend. Everything seemed to be effortless for Dan, Jourdane said, whether it was playing piano or technology, or making people happy.
“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the year Dan was a coworker and resident was my happiest year,” he said. “He was just so pleasant.”
The Facebook page and website that the Ha family set up to organize public searches for Ha are now collecting monetary donations to help offset costs for Ha’s funeral and memorial services. Please donate money here.
If you are on the West Coast, a public memorial service is being held today (November 14th) at 7:30pm at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, San Francisco — here is the link to the Facebook event page. The funeral service will be held November 22 at 12pm, at the Woodlawn Funeral Home Cemetary, 5930 Mullen Rd SE, Lacey WA 98503.
Donations will also be accepted at today’s memorial service, or can be mailed along with flowers or cards to the funeral home.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Ha family and to all whose lives were touched by Daniel Ha.
