A celebration of life was held Saturday for a Loyola High School student who was run down by a suspected drunk driver just weeks before graduation.
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The gathering took place Saturday at 6 p.m. Over 5,000 people were expected to attend the celebration for Braun Levi, who was fatally struck early Sunday morning while walking with a friend in Manhattan Beach.
His father, Dr. Dan Levi, remembered his son as hardworking.
"School was always first," he told the crowd. "He took all the AP classes. He never made a B, got in all the colleges, summa cum laude."
A nationally ranked tennis star, Braun was bound for the University of Virginia in the fall. His family moved to Manhattan Beach earlier this year after their home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
"As the Varsity tennis team captain for three years, Braun was a true leader and student athlete, serving as a member of the Student Council, a senior Big Brother, Kairos retreat leader and volleyball team manager," according to a statement from Loyola High School.
Coach Brian Held said Levi was the emotional center of the team.
"I can still see him leading the charge of guys storming onto the court, jumping up and down to celebrate a trip to the finals with his teammates," Held said. "Braun makes everyone feel a part of the group, regardless if they are a starter or not. He makes others feel good about themselves by finding positive things to celebrate in them."
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the “Live Like Braun" scholarship fund.
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