Mr. Christino was active in the University’s HenLaw Society, a Registered Student Organization, and he was a student intern for the Office of Student Conduct and served as a member of its Appellate Board. In a 2019 UDaily article, Mr. Christino noted, ““I take pride in that serving on the board is not only an awesome way to be a huge and important part of the UD community but a way to do my part in keeping that community safe.”

Regina Donato, assistant director of the Office of Student Conduct, said, “Working with and getting to know Garret as he served on the Appellate Board and as an intern within our office was truly a privilege. He always gave more than you requested and was eager to learn more than you would ever expect from a student. As a leader, he was a true representative for his peers on the board and worked hard to be fair to individuals while ensuring safety of others. His passion for his work was directly tied to his drive to be a lawyer, and he would have made a great one. The Office of Student Conduct and I are so grateful for the time we had with him and while he will forever be missed, we will always have fond memories of an amazing person who made a huge impact.”

Calling him “everything you could hope for in a student leader, fraternity man and person,” Brittany Acosta, assistant director of Orientation and Transition Programs, said Mr. Christino was involved in many different areas of campus and was friends with everyone. “In all of his leadership roles, he was the perfect balance of fun, friendly, and serious and always went above and beyond all expectations,” she said. “He truly embodied what it means to be a servant leader, and he gave so much of his light to allow others on campus to find theirs. I feel so lucky to have been able to work with him and watch him grow and thrive on campus over the years.”

At UD, Mr. Christino was also a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and his fraternity brothers said, “Garret was truly loved by every single one of our brothers, and he helped build our chapter into what it is today and forged our close-knit brotherhood. He will always be remembered for his humor, intellect and compassion. We are endlessly grateful for the legacy he leaves with us, and for him always being part of our support system. Garret meant the world to us and to all of those around him.”

Mr. Christino was born in Princeton, New Jersey, and graduated from Notre Dame High School with the Class of 2016. He was beginning his first year at Delaware Law School of Widener University.

Noting that he “loved life,” his family said, “He loved being with people, whether family, closest friends or people he just met, he loved to talk about anything and everything. He was particularly passionate about the work he did for the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Garret also loved to find ways to better himself, working out, attending mass on Sundays or his love of learning. Garret had always been very active and filled his days with hiking, cooking, eating, making people laugh and making countless memories. We will hold Garret in our hearts forever until we can once again be with our sweet shining light of love and one of our greatest gifts from God.”

Mr. Christino was predeceased by his grandfather, Dr. Kunwar K. Srivastava, and is survived by his parents, David and Archana Srivastava Christino; his sister, Elina Raye Christino; his maternal grandmother, Urmila Srivastava; his paternal grandparents, Anthony Jr. and Elizabeth Christino; his aunt, Nimi Srivastava; his cousins, Andrew and Rina Meschke; his aunt and uncle, Angela and John Marcantonini; his cousins, Michael and Jack; his aunt and uncle, Anthony III, and Adrianne Christino; and his cousins, Martha and Ruth Christino.

An outdoor socially distanced memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Aug 24, at the Princeton Alliance Church, 20 Schalks Crossing Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 1-3 p.m. and 3-5:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 23, at Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Services at Glackin Chapel, 136 Morrison Ave., Hightstown, New Jersey. Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mr. Christino’s memory to Beta Theta Pi Leadership Fund by visiting  gift.beta.org  or donation checks may be made to Notre Dame High School, 601 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrence Township, NJ 08648, directed toward Catholic Missions in Memory of Garret Christino.

Condolences may be left online.

Support and assistance

For any students in need of support or assistance, the Division of Student Life provides a variety of resources.

Students in need are encouraged to reach out to the Center for Counseling and Student Development by calling 302-831-2141 during business hours (8 a.m.-45 p.m., Monday through Friday) or the UD Helpline at 302-831-1001, which is available 24 hours a day for any student in need. For anyone experiencing an emergency, please call 911. For other support or advocacy needs, students may contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 302-831-8939.

UD benefitted employees may contact HMS/Health Advocates 24/7 at 800-343-2186 and provide them with the name “State of Delaware.” They have contracted staff and their own staff employees to assist with counseling needs of faculty and staff. HMS/Health Advocate provides online assistance at https://hms.HealthAdvocate.com.