His name was Greg Sobel.

Everyone knew Greg at Western. He was the big man on campus. He was the president of the Student Body. He helped create the Washington Student Lobby, going to Olympia to fight for better funding of education. He was always busy, running around the campus and leading some rally or movement.

For me, he was also one whopping crush.

I was a sophomore reporter for the college paper, studying to be a journalist. I interviewed Greg one time, and that was all it took. After a bit of flirting, I invited to him my place for dinner. We had a wonderful evening, and at the end of our date, he told me that we weren't going to be able to take our relationship any further. Two reasons he gave me, that long ago night. One, because I was a reporter at the paper, he felt uneasy dating. Two, he had met someone recently, and he thought it was going to get serious.

Greg and I didn't go out again. But two wonderful things happened. One, he and I became friends, and the more I knew, the more I liked. Two, I met his girlfriend. I'll call her "Marcy." We became dear buddies and knew we would be friends forever. I have wonderful memories of hanging out with both of them as we fought the good fight. I have a vivid memory of watching the two of them across Red Square one evening, laughing, holding hands. I felt a bit jealous, but also excited about the years to come, sure that we would all be friends forever.

We drifted apart. Over the years, I wondered about them both. I watched for updates in the college newsletter. Once Google came on the scene, I Googled them frequently, wondering if I could find them again.

I found Greg about six years ago. He was running a successful organization, called Environmental Mediation Services, just outside Boston. He was still a wonderful force in his community. He lectured around the country, and helped people find their way through environmental issues. I often wondered how active he must still be, entering middle age. The Greg I knew was a river rafting guide. He climbed mountains. He hiked with his friends. No task was too insurmountable for him. The guy opened a Soup Kitchen in his hometown of Baltimore when he was just a teenager! I couldn't imagine him ever stopping.

I never found "Marcy," but did email Greg. I didn't hear back. Over the years, I have often thought of him.

Yesterday, I Googled Marcy again, hoping to find her somewhere out there. I never expected to find her listed on a tribute Website. She was using her maiden name for the first time in many years, saying hello and talking about the love she had felt for Greg Sobel.

It turns out that Greg had a car accident in 1996. For nine years, he was in and out of hospitals. He was in a wheelchair. He used a cane. He was in enormous pain. He became a spokesperson for disabled people. He was no longer as active as he had once been.

And, I found out, Greg walked into one of his beloved rivers last June and died.

Marcy had given her love on his tribute website. I found her, and after more than 20 years, we are back in touch, sharing memories and stories. She is an attorney in Seattle. We plan to have lunch, and are both very sadly noting that Greg brought us together in college, and is bringing us together again now.

So as I sit and think of Greg, and what he meant to me 20 years ago, I find myself thinking about the wonder, glory and possibility of college. My God, we want to set the world on fire. We have such dreams, and such high hopes.

Sometimes, our dreams come true. I always wanted to be a mom. I always wanted to help causes, and I get to do that today in my business.

Sometimes, our dreams don't come true. Sometimes we have accidents, we live in pain and perhaps we just decide it's all too much to bear anymore.

So where does it leave me when I look at my children? It leaves me regretting not keeping in touch with people who loved me, or who I loved. It leaves me wishing that I could go back, and tell those people what they meant to me. I wish I knew then what I know now.

That's that life is short. Friendships - true friendships - are rare. And beauty is to be held onto.

With that, I now go to the Greg Sobel website and write my thoughts. It is the least I can do. For Greg. For his family. And for college memories that seem very, very fresh today.

Lauri Hennessey runs her own public relations business and is the mother of three. She also went to Western Washington University long ago. You can reach her at lauri@hennesseypr.com