Funeral services were held Dec. 5 for recent alumnus Jordan Feltus '05, who passed away Nov. 29 at his home in Phoenix, Ariz.
Feltus, 22, suffered from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare genetic connective tissue disorder. The syndrome causes the production of faulty collagen in the body and can lead to hemorrhaging and organ collapses.
Although Feltus was first diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome when he was 15 years old, he noticed symptoms associated with the disorder when he was a child.
Feltus' father also suffered from the syndrome and passed away when Jordan was nine years old.
Feltus originally hailed from Staten Island before matriculating at Dartmouth. He graduated from Staten Island Technical High School in 2001, where he showed talent in science and a commitment to community service.
While at Dartmouth, Feltus excelled in his academic and extracurricular pursuits. He served as social chair and community service chair of Alpha Theta coed fraternity and was also active in volunteering through organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.
Feltus also worked as a laboratory assistant and teacher's assistant during his time as an undergraduate, and spent time shadowing students at Dartmouth Medical School.
He moved to Phoenix in July after graduating with a degree in neuroscience. He worked there as a research assistant at Barrow Neurological Institute, where he assisted in studies that aim to help people afflicted with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease to walk. Feltus hoped to continue this research for a year before pursuing a doctorate in clinical neuropsychology.
Feltus was known to be a very spiritual person and belonged to the Great Kills Moravian Church. Through his church, he raised money for Orphanage Outreach, an organization that sends volunteers abroad to assist orphaned children, and he spent his last spring break volunteering at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. In his free time, Feltus enjoyed mountain climbing and the musical arts.
He played saxophone in the Dartmouth College Marching Band and also enjoyed playing the guitar. He also was fluent in Russian and French and had learned some Hindi from friends.
An memorial service is scheduled on campus for January 14.
