Hundreds Walk In Memory Of Ramapo's Ben Landel

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — They braved frigid temperatures and walked. They walked in memory of a young man who ran for untold miles on the same track they were on.

They walked for Ben Landel.

Landel, 18, died last week after a yearlong battle against his toughest opponent. It wasn't a stifling defense on the soccer field or his best time in the 1- or 2-mile runs on the track. It was cancer.

Landel's teammates spoke highly of him at the memorial walk at Ramapo High School Wednesday. People left bouquets of flowers and lit candles below two photos of Landel. People wrote memorial notes and words of kindness about Landel around the photos.

"He was always the one person, at any race, he was always cheering everyone on. He was always the one who was saying 'come on guys we can do it.' He was always the one who would motivate others to run harder and stick together," said Izzy Boomhower, a senior and one of Landel's track teammates. "He was the fastest runner on our distance team and he was always saying 'our team did this' or 'we accomplished this.'"

Just as with his athletic performance, Landel was modest about his fight against cancer.

"He honestly never wanted other people to know he was sick. If you asked him how he was doing, he would say, 'I'm OK.' He always wanted people to think he was doing well because he didn't want other people to worry about him," Boomhower said. "That shows how amazing of a person he was."

Ramapo rack coach Bill Manzo spoke about Landel's ability to bring people together.

"There was something special about Ben that transcended team colors that made everyone a part of the same team: Ben's team," Manzo said to the crowd. "In Ben's death, it is that sense of community that Ben created that helps me through my own grief. Look around you right now at this crowd and do not let your hearts be troubled, for this right here part of Ben's legacy. Even in his absence he continues to bring people together."

Manzo asked the crowd to embrace some of Landel's qualities: Perpetual kindness, selflessness, loyalty, trustworthiness, a sense of forgiveness and humility.

"I'll also never forget Ben's toughness in fighting cancer," Manzo said. "He truly never quit and his approach to that fight was nothing short of heroic."

Related: Ramapo HS Soccer, Track Athlete Ben Landel Dies Of Cancer

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Photos of the memorial service for Ben Landel at Ramapo High School Wednesday. By Daniel Hubbard, Patch staff