IU junior and Sigma Chi member Jacob Schleinz had a smile that could light up the room, his friends said. As someone who cared about people deeply, he always went out of his way to make someone’s day.
Schleinz died April 2 after suffering injuries from a four-story fall from an apartment building, according to the Bloomington Police Department.
He would have turned 21 on Wednesday, April 14. Schleinz was from Champaign, Illinois.
Schleinz’s mother, Teresa Schleinz, said to know Jacob was to love him. He was a natural leader, which was apparent through his studies and ambitions, she said. He was a dedicated student in the Kelley School of Business with an amazing work ethic, she said.
“Jacob was a leader from a young age, and I’m told he inspired a lot of his friends,” Schleinz said.
Jacob was someone who was incredibly honest, she said.
When he was delivering food for Jimmy John’s one summer, Schleinz said a couple accidentally gave him a $50 tip. Schleinz went back to return the money because he knew they gave him the amount on accident, she said.
Schleinz said their family had overwhelming support at Jacob’s memorial service, which was April 9, in Urbana, Illinois. More than 1,000 people attended his service, she said.
Alex Goldstein, an IU junior and Sigma Chi member, said Schleinz was the most genuine and personable person he’s ever met.
“He was friends with every single person on this campus,” Goldstein said. “I think that’s one of the things I’ll always remember. I probably couldn’t go five feet with him walking down the street without him saying hi to someone.”
Schleinz was the life of every party, Goldstein said, and he had an energy that was infectious to those around him.
“He was friends with every single person on this campus.”
— Alex Goldstein, IU junior
Schleinz’s roommate Jack Vecchio said Schleinz knew many people through his
involvement around campus. Schleinz loved hockey, and he participated in the “Drop the Puck on Cancer” hockey event with other fraternities, Vecchio said.
Schleinz was also part of the IU Dance Marathon entertainment committee, Sigma Chi fraternity and was a Kids for Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer, Vecchio said.
Schleinz honestly cared about people and their well-being, Vecchio said.
“He was so genuine. You could hear it in his voice,” Vecchio said. “It wasn’t just an empty ‘How are you?’”
IU junior Lily Kaplan, who was a friend of Schleinz, said he was the type of person that everyone wanted to be friends with. She said he was the most empathetic and caring person she had ever met.
“My favorite memory of him was when he and I first saw each other after I had been gone first semester,” Kaplan said. “He ran over to me, picked me up, and told me that no matter what time of day it was, he would be there ready to listen.”
A GoFundMe scholarship fund in memory of Schleinz. The memorial scholarship was created April 4 and has since raised $142,000. The Schleinz family asked for any donations to be made to the Jacob Schleinz Memorial Scholarship to honor his life and legacy, Teresa Schleinz said.
