Andrew Collins said an interesting thing about life is that, when someone dies, his or her memory usually fizzles over time, but just as George never wavered, his impact hasn't, either. When I asked Andrew why, he said, “Because George never asked for it. It's who he was. He was larger than life without trying to be larger than life. To this day, I often ask myself, ‘Is this how George would have lived his life?’ I can't be George but I can strive to be like him. Remembering him makes me better. Every day I take his lessons and apply them to my life as a husband and new father. In my role as a sales manager, I never ask my team to do things I wouldn't do. Instead of telling them, I remember George's example, and I get in there and do the work and show them how it's done.”

Kyle Georgalas, who is now an assistant coach for the Army lacrosse team, said, “George made me a better teammate and now he makes me a better coach. I have more empathy and strive to serve my team. I go to the library to meet with players during the off-season instead of making them come to my office. I focus more on developing relationships with my players to help them be their best.”

George's coach, Ben DeLuca, who is now an assistant for the Duke University lacrosse team, said, “Two events in my life have transformed my coaching philosophy: 9/11 and George's passing. Losing George on the field that day taught me perspective and how to focus on relationships. I now let my team know I love them. I drive them to be their best, but let them know I care about them. To this day, I compare every player to George, and the biggest compliment I can give a young man is that he reminds me of George and hustles like he did.”

When I asked Mitch Belisle what he thinks about when he remembers George, he said, “I think about the huge impact he had on me in such a short amount of time. He was alive for only 22 years and made a bigger impact than most people who live 80 years. To this day, I do 21 reps instead of 20. I give more effort and work harder because of George. I run a lacrosse company and still play pro lacrosse and have the honor of wearing 21 for my team. And one of the greatest honors of my life was wearing number 21 for Team USA this summer at the World Games.”

David Coors still remembers the sight of George sitting in his room on the couch, eating a sub, watching television. He said, “Our rooms shared a common area and since George was president of the fraternity, he had a master key. When I would come back from class there was George, hanging out in my room. He was never about appearances, and clothes weren't a big deal to him, so he would often borrow my dress shirts and socks. Because it was George and he was the kind of person who would give the shirt off his back to someone in need, it never seemed to bother me. He was such a free spirit and I loved him. To this day I get up and go surfing in Sydney, Australia, at 5:30 a.m. before work to get the most out of life. When friends ask my wife and I to go out, we always say yes. When I get an invite, I say yes. Life is short and I want to make the most of it.”

Justin Redd said, “I think about him every day. I think about how unfair it is that he didn't get to live on—how unfair it is that people didn't get to meet him and know him. I think about all the kids that didn't get to be taught by him and the family he didn't get to have. I realize how lucky I am to have those things, and more to look forward to. When something doesn't go right in my life and I come up short, one of the first things I think is, ‘George would never have done that.’ He's still a guide on how to live. George never took the easy road and neither will I.”

Billy Fort said, “I don't think about George when things are going great. I don't know why, but I think about him when things aren't going great. I think that's when I look to him for strength to get through whatever adversity I'm facing. George was always helping his friends and he continues to help me now to live and lead like him.”

When I asked Janna, George's college girlfriend, how he has impacted her life 10 years later, she broke down in tears and said, “When I met George I had been through a lot, and yet George loved me with my flaws and all. George was so loving, so kind, and so thoughtful, he taught me I could love again. He helped me become the woman I am today.”

Tim DeBlois was on the field next to George when he died. He said, “I think about all the people George would have touched if he had lived, and I feel a duty to touch people's lives and impact others. I wear a bracelet on my wrist with George's number on it and am constantly asking myself if I can do more. I don't ask in a negative way. George never made you want to do more out of obligation. He made you want to do more to be your very best and, to this day, he makes me want to be my best as a son, brother, soon-to-be husband, and, hopefully, a father.”

Nii Amaah Ofosu-Amaah, who went to high school with George, has since become great friends with George's college teammates. He said, “I think about George every day. Through 10 years of joy, blood, sweat, and tears at Landon together, he is part of who I am and who I have become. I remember fondly being cornered in a bar at home in DC over the holidays our senior year of college and getting grilled by George about my new girlfriend (now wife) and pursuits post-college. With all the distractions we have today, it's a special feeling to have 100 percent of someone's attention. Remembering how immersed George was in each of our interactions (and how rare and good that felt), I attempt to be fully absorbed in the moments I have with my friends and family: 100 percent effort, 100 percent attention, just like George always [gave to] everyone.”

Tim Kirchner, who helps run the Mario St. George Boiardi Foundation with several of George's other teammates and friends, said, “From my decision to halt a New York job search and return home to San Francisco in May of 2004, to my coaching lacrosse that spring and thereby landing the day job I have held for the past nine years, my trajectory has George's fingerprints all over it. And just as George led me to my job, he also led me away from it, serving as a reminder to make time for the more important things when my nephew was born, my parents were sick, or my friends needed help, and to have the courage to step away when I felt I could do more good elsewhere. And now I feel fortunate to be logging many hours with George, which is how I think about my work leading his foundation.”