This is part 1 of a two-profile series. For part 2 on University senior Patrick Compton, click here
Craig Macfie lived much of his life on the edge of his swift and finely tuned skis. An Olympic-caliber racer, the Scotland native could, with ease, rush down dauntingly steep pitches, charging and cutting — nearly horizontally — through every course gate.
And much like one of his runs, Macfie seemed to measure his life by the fractions of a second. Macfie, a 24-year-old senior and business major, sailed through his time at the University with enough timing and anticipation to prepare for what lay ahead, while reserving ample appreciation for each given moment.
“That was always Craig,” said University senior Gordy Levitt@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Levitt@@, a teammate on the University Alpine Team and one of Macfie’s closest friends. “He was the epitome of ‘work hard, play hard.”
Yet it is clear that no amount of keen preparation could’ve rescued Macfie — who was set to graduate at the end of this term — from the tragic accident that took place last Friday morning. In one horrifying instant, Macfie was struck from behind on his bicycle by the car of intoxicated 21-year-old University senior Patrick Compton@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Patrick+Compton@@. The collision resulted in serious injuries that, despite medical efforts, ultimately took Macfie’s life the following Saturday evening.
The tragedy came in one instant, the build up to which could not have been more indicative of Macfie’s life and personality. During the day on Thursday, Macfie spent several hours working on his final and most important business project, before arriving at Levitt’s house in the evening to spend time with friends. He spent several hours there that night, and spoke several times about an internship he had been confirmed for only days before: a sports marketing position with Puma.
“He was very excited about his future plans and to have things lined up, and it was inspiring to hear,” Levitt said.
Around 2:15 a.m., Macfie left the house to bike to his home several blocks away on 7th and Charnelton. Outside it was cold and rainy, and Levitt recalled telling Macfie that he was welcome to spend the night.
“Like most people would, he just wanted to get home to his bed,” Levitt said.
Friday morning brought the news that less than 20 minutes after his departure, Macfie — who was also intoxicated and riding without a helmet — was involved in an accident and taken to the Sacred Heart Hospital at Riverbend@@http://www.peacehealth.org/sacred-heart-riverbend/Pages/default.aspx@@. University senior RJ Ring@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Robert+J+Ring@@, another teammate and close friend, was one of the first to hear about the crash.
“I got ready and I rushed down there. I expected to see Craig maybe with a broken leg or with his arm in a sling, just making jokes or something,” Ring said. “Walking in there was the most shocking thing for me, because I thought I would be able to talk to him.”
For the first several hours that Macfie spent in the hospital, doctors retained some hope that he could potentially survive the injuries, and hope lingered among his friends, who were alongside him at the hospital; however, the severity of the accident and of the head trauma soon became apparent. The tragic reality that Macfie would not recover became known to everyone.
Even so, those who knew Macfie remained throughout Saturday and into Saturday evening, when his parents arrived from Scotland. Dozens of people crowded in the lobby, while his closest friends sat in the hall right outside his room.
“I’d say at one point there were probably 20 people in the hallway, at least,” University senior Peter Hodel said@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Peter+Hodel@@. “At one point, I think the nurses were even getting a little angry because there were too many of us.”
For most of the weekend the hospital housed Macfie’s teammates, classmates and even some professors as they sat together, grieving together over the loss of a life that was taken in the midst of such a common commute. But for his friends, Craig will not be remembered by his talent as a skier or the sad event that caused his death; rather, it will be his warm personality and the intense gratitude he showed toward the small moments in life.
“Craig stood out in a group. He would’ve stood out without the accent, but the accent certainly made him unique,” Levitt said. “He was just a memorable guy.”
“He always said he was going to die young,” Ring said. “I never thought he’d die this young.”