Fagnano's infectious smile was a permanent feature of his face. (Marisa Keckeisen)

Last Sunday, a relaxing trip to Venice Beach turned deadly for 20-year-old Nick Fagnano, who became the chance victim of a lightning storm that overtook clear, sunny skies.

Fagnano was swimming near Venice Pier when rare, powerful strikes of lightning hit the ocean water, tragically ending his life–just weeks before he was poised to start his college career at the University of Southern California. 

READ MORE: Deadly Lightning Storm Strikes Venice Beach

News of the tragedy, especially given the rare occurrence of lightning in coastal Southern California, was as staggering as it was unfathomable to Fagnano’s friends and family. No one could claim that the storm was anything more than an aberration, because there was neither explanation nor justice to be found in stealing him away from the loving arms of those who knew him.

Before his transfer to USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy–where the incoming junior had hoped to study real estate development–Fagnano attended Santa Barbara City College and played baseball his first year. He was also working as a bartender at Downtown L.A.’s Ace Hotel this summer and planned to find an on-campus job during the school year. After college, Fagnano aspired to work in urban planning. 

One of Fagnano’s best friends since high school, Marisa Keckeisen described him as a “true gentleman on all aspects” and “the sweetest, most genuine man you could meet with the biggest heart of gold.” 

“He literally listened to everything and anything you had to say…you literally could never lie to him because he was just so pure and honest. His exceeding passion was seen in everything he did, whether it was baseball or his dedication to school or his relationships with others,” said Keckeisen.

Both Keckeisen and Alex Gould, another one of Fagnano’s closest friends, easily came to an agreement on Fagnano’s most prominent feature.

“[Nick] always had that big goofy smile that radiated such happiness and warmth,” recalled Keckeisen. “You feel at ease…and welcomed every time you were with him.”

“If you were having a bad day and saw Nick, you instantly felt much better,” Gould added. “He will forever be a giant teddy bear.”

Keckeisen’s most vivid memory of Fagnano’s ability to touch the lives of friends, was from their senior year of high school, when Fagnano asked her to prom. When he used baseball caps from various teams to spell out the words “MARISA PROM,” he made sure to represent Keckeisen’s favorite team, the Angels, at the end–even though his own personal favorite, the Dodgers, were the Angels’ bitter rivals.

To Gould, the most striking example of Fagnano’s genuine personality occurred during a midnight drive he took with Fagnano. His friend suddenly proclaimed that they would “become successful, live right next to each other, grow old together and marry two beautiful girls.”

“I envisioned it ever since he said that to me, and my plan never changed. I never wanted anything more in my life than what he said to me that day.”

Fagnano also valued his relationship with God and the Catholic Church. Both Keckeisen and Gould spoke about their friend’s steadfast faith, which was apparent in all of his words and deeds.

His acceptance to USC was the most recent highlight of his life. The prospect of finally joining the Trojan family fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams and made Fagnano “extremely proud,” said Gould.

Keckeisen said she “screamed through the walls” when Fagnano told her he would be matriculating to USC. The two “instantly reconnected” and made extensive plans for Fagnano’s new life in L.A.–including where he would live, what clubs and activities he would participate in, even where the two would eat lunch every day. “The day before the incident, we were debating which apartment he was going to sign a lease at the next day.” 

Out of everything that awaited him at his new life at USC, Fagnano was most excited about “fully experiencing the feel of the Trojan community.” He decided that he wanted to join a fraternity, play club baseball, and “just enjoy college as a Trojan.”

According to those who knew him best, Nick Fagnano was a faithful, scholarly, courageous, skillful and ambitious man–a true Trojan long before he knew he would join the USC student body. Though he departed the world before he was able to experience firsthand the joy and fervor of living amongst the Trojan family, Fagnano always made sure to unconditionally share the warmth in his own heart with people around him. 

“USC was lucky to have an incredible guy like him and it is heartbreaking to know that they will never truly get to experience the kindhearted, loving man that he was,” Keckeisen declared. “He was a better Trojan than any of us could ever be. To say that he will be missed is an understatement.”  

Reach Staff Reporter Ashley Yang here, or follow her on Twitter.