Aydin Arman Ozbek

Aydin Arman Ozbek, a Reno native, recently of Eugene, Oregon, passed away from a sudden unexpected medical event on January 30, 2024. He was born in 1993 in Reno, Nevada to Murat and Karen (Riordan) Ozbek, joining his beloved sister Sera. Aydin is survived by his parents of Sparks, NV and his sister of Reno, NV. His extended family includes his paternal grandmother, Sevim Ozbek, his uncle Ugur Ozbek, and cousins Mert Zarkan and Cansu Ozbek, all of Istanbul, Turkey. He is also survived by aunts and uncles, including Kalah and John Considine (Naperville, Illinois), Patrick and Lydia Riordan (Austin, Texas), Mary Riordan and Hilton Davis (Springfield, Virginia), and Anne Riordan and Don Wisniewski (South Bend, Indiana). Also surviving are cousins Marissa Considine, Regan (Adam) Considine, Alexa Considine, Daniel Riordan, Sean (Emilie) Riordan, Keenan Riordan, Caleigh Davis, Rosemary Wisniewski, and Andrew Wisniewski. Additionally, Aydin leaves behind his cherished partner, Ana Colon, of Eugene, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Tahir Ozbek, Dan R. Riordan, Lorraine Riordan Barber and William Barber as well as his aunt Nilufer Zarkan.

Aydin's love for his family was never a secret. His family life revolved around spending time together, playing games with his sister, chasing his childhood dog Rusty, and picking out his favorite movies at Blockbuster Video every Friday night. He loved reading, especially reading books together before bedtime each night. Home was a central gathering place for homework, snacks, and neighborhood friends after school. Every fall season was filled with AYSO soccer practice and games, while summers brought family reunions with all the cousins in South Carolina and extended visits with his grandparents from Turkey.

Growing up in Reno, Aydin maintained a closeknit group of friends, including some that he had known since elementary school. Together with his family and friends, he enjoyed many outdoor activities, such as boating and wakeboarding on Pyramid Lake, and snowboarding at Tahoe Donner. From his first experience playing a mini-drum kit at home and upright bass for the elementary school program, music became a key part of Aydin's life. His passion for music grew with the formation of a neighborhood garage band and continued as he wrote and produced songs, played guitar, and performed with the local Reno band, Skew Ring. He appreciated many genres of music from vintage labels and jazz legends like Louis Armstrong to punk rock.

Aydin attended schools locally, beginning his journey as a lifelong learner with particular enthusiasm for the sciences. He received both his bachelor's degree and master's degree in math from the University of Nevada, Reno. As an undergraduate, he studied abroad at the University of Sterling in Scotland, which afforded him opportunities to travel extensively in Europe. He entered the doctoral program in mathematics at the University of Oregon in 2019 with the goal of becoming a math professor. Although the department thought he would make a wonderful academic, his intellectual curiosity led him to eventually pursue a different path in data science, which required additional studies in quantum computing and coding as well as collaboration with colleagues in other fields. This led to his participation in the Erdos Institute and the creation of one of the top five coding projects. Aydin was scheduled to complete his PhD later this year and was excited to launch his new career.

In Eugene, Aydin found many new friends, a stimulating academic community, challenging personal interests and above all, his Ana. The natural beauty of Oregon offered them many opportunities to travel, camp, hike, and kayak. Together with their lovable dog, Ceiba, Aydin and Ana explored the wide outdoors of the Pacific Northwest. While Reno was always his hometown, his heart found its home in the climate and landscapes surrounding the Eugene area. When he adopted a new interest, he poured his heart and brilliant mind into discovering new skills. Among their circle of friends, Aydin and Ana's home became a gathering place where he enjoyed sharing his talents as a master home cook. With several trips to Ana's native Puerto Rico, he worked to replicate the best cuisine of the culture. He and Ana had begun to compile a cookbook of their personal favorite recipes, revising each to perfection.

In addition to his great enthusiasm for cooking, Aydin made time for a variety of other creative endeavors. Both the studio and garage were filled with all the tools and materials needed to pursue these hobbies. Aydin took great care in both selecting and making meaningful gifts for his loved ones. As they embraced new hobbies, he and Ana presented friends with handcrafted items, such as tufted rugs and woodcut prints. In the past year, he had discovered a talent for woodworking. This new endeavor resulted in the completion of his most ambitious project, a pair of midcentury modern birch nightstands. Touring scenic places, such as Iceland, New Zealand, and British Columbia, provided many opportunities to fulfill his interest in both travel and photography, allowing him to fill the walls of his home with images of favorite memories.

Aydin was a gentle soul who embraced new experiences and cherished meaningful relationships throughout his life. A quiet and thoughtful young man, he will be remembered for his joyful spirit, his kindness toward all, and his giving nature. These qualities were most evident in his ultimate choice to be an organ donor. His generous gifts of life are benefiting countless recipients with the chance to lead healthy lives.

The Celebration of Life for Aydin will be held on Sunday April 28th 1-4 pm at the Red Hawk Resort Events Center (6600 North Wingfield Pkwy, Sparks, NV 89436). The Celebration of Life ceremony will begin at 1:30 pm with a reception immediately following. Gifts in his name may be directed to:

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada (give.fbnn.org) in Washoe County, Nevada

Northwest Dog Project (northwestdogproject.org/donate) in Eugene, Oregon.

Please use this space as a place to share memories and photos of Aydin as we all grieve his loss together. We will always love and miss you, Aydee.