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In the words of Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Earth has one angel less, and Heaven one more, since yesterday.” Ian loved vacations in Florida, surprise birthday parties, road trips with friends and, especially, hanging-out at the creek – sitting around a blazing fire and talking all night long. He loved spicy foods and listening to music all the time - it was rare to see him without his iPod. His favorites were Hieroglyphics, Metallica and Tool. A favorite song was Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses... ”Take me down to the Paradise City, Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty, Oh, won’t you please take me home...” Ian had the biggest, kindest heart, a sincere caring for others, and a genuine love for all creatures, which was revealed when he volunteered at Anderson Animal Shelter, caring for the cats. He was also probably the smartest person I've ever known: He learned the alphabet and numbers before he was two, taught himself to read at three and read voraciously throughout his childhood and early teens, while retaining it all in his sponge-like memory. He studied Japanese in college and excelled in karate and fencing, rarely losing a match. History was a favorite subject of Ian’s and he saw it as a spiraling series of interwoven events. His curiosity, in-depth knowledge and expertise in science, especially BioChem, were extensive. He volunteered at DelNor Hospital in Geneva, Illinois, with interests gravitating toward medicine and research. Ian was a born writer with an innate ability to both write and speak – to always use the perfect word or words. His sister, Natalie, called him the “walking encyclopedia”. Ian’s stories and poems were eloquent and he put that talent to use writing lyrics for a friend’s band. Ian’s diverse interests included learning to fly a single-engine Piper Cub as well as sailing lessons on Lake Michigan, gourmet and ethnic cooking classes, and the promise of working on impending television productions. But, Ian’s greatest gifts, the things that those who knew him always commented on, were his gift of sincere listening and understanding and his ability to make people laugh. His friends knew they could talk to him about anything - his love and friendship were unconditional. His compassion - genuine and heartfelt. During Ian's short life, he lived in many places: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Germany and Missouri. He traveled to even more far-flung places – trooping through ancient ruins and schlepping rocks, bones, snakeskin and various natural “souvenirs” across Europe and Northern Africa to add to his collections. He climbed the Alps in Bavaria with friends, as well as thyme-covered hillsides in Turkey and Italy when he wasn’t photographing the local cats. However, Ian’s happiest moments were those spent in Illinois in the backyard of his closest friends, sitting around a fire, talking and laughing. And the last week of his life appeared little different, as he was looking forward to spending Spring Break with friends in Florida. With all of Ian’s intelligence and accomplishments, he might have done significant medical research, or become a stimulating and fascinating history teacher or maybe a prominent writer or journalist. He had the ability and talent for any of these, as well as the humility that kept him such a special and deeply lovable person, but, instead, he spent most of his energy fighting the inner demons known as depression and anxiety. Ian was a victim of the growing epidemic of suicide, which occurs, on average, every 14 minutes in this country, as well as being the second leading cause of death among college-aged young people. These deaths are needless, senseless and avoidable and the first step along the journey of prevention, is awareness.. Ian was a student, a brother, a son and a friend. He was a poet, a comic, a genius, a writer, a spiritualist and a philosopher. Ian was a seeker, in search of everything. He has gone home. "... and when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn. Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice. Just know that I’m looking down on you smiling and I didn’t feel a thing, so baby don’t feel no pain just smile back. ... and when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn. Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice. Just know that I’m looking down on you smiling and I didn’t feel a thing, so baby don’t feel no pain just smile back..." Eminem |
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Click here to see Ian Ladik's Family Tree |
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Ian's Photo Album| Bring the memories home by publishing your online memorial as a genuine hardcover keepsake |
| This memorial website was created by Rosana Ladik on 05/03/2006.
click here to contact Rosana |
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