Emre Harrison Latifses

He was pure sunshine. Emre Harrison Latifses- devoted son, loving brother, kickass cousin, beloved grandson and nephew, amazing friend, dedicated student and mentor-left us unexpectedly on February 4th, 2022, when he died suddenly at his home in Austin, Texas. His loss leaves those who loved him-which was everyone who knew him-devastated and bereft.

He is loved beyond measure, and our lives will never be the same. His adventurous spirit and infectious laugh will live on with all of us forever. He was a gifted scholar and an incredibly hard-working student. His impersonation of Morgan Freeman was spot-on and he loved all things basketball. He was a huge Lakers fan. Most of all he loved the gym and working out. He was a fierce weightlifter.

Emre was born in Los Angeles, CA to Victoria and Serdar Latifses. He grew up in Calabasas, CA where he attended The Calmont School and Bay Laurel Elementary. The family moved to Austin, TX when Emre was in 5th grade. He attended Forest Trail Elementary, Westridge Middle school and Westlake High School in Austin, TX. Emre attended the Yale Young Global Scholars program in 2017 and it sparked an interest in not only academic learning but in international travel, other cultures and meeting new people.

Emre volunteered as a greeter and parking lot valet at Riverbend Church from 2013-2017. He graduated the West Austin Cotillion in 2014 and then became student ambassador. He volunteered at Austin State Hospital in the patient library. He was a 2019 honors graduate of Westlake High School and ran varsity track for three years. He was a sophomore at Texas State University where he majored in Kinesiology and planned to earn a graduate degree in physical therapy following his undergraduate degree. He was so intent on this goal he decided against a study-abroad trip to Switzerland he was offered to stay close to family and work on his academic and personal goals.

Emre was defined by all he was and accomplished. Emre was a force of nature. His work ethic was unmatched. He could study for hours. He was hilariously funny, loving, smart, talented, knowledgeable, insightful. There are so many adjectives that describe him. He loved music, art and film, animals and people. He had just discovered philosophy, Bowie, and Tarantino. Emre was that young man who captivated a room with his electric smile, could wipe out 3 rotisserie chickens and still be hungry, and burp the alphabet with flourish. May he rest in peace now. And may his memory be a blessing to all who loved him.

His mother Victoria and his brother Kaya will miss him for all eternity. He leaves behind his father, Serdar Latifses, from Los Angeles, CA, and Stockholm, Sweden, his uncle William Mazurek, and grandparents Ethel Mazurek and Bill Stevens from Austin, TX, William and Clarice Fowler; Marcy and Cole Smith, Porter and Sadie of Bandera, TX; Sheree and Kurt Beddingfield, and Hollis and Sawyer of Salida, Colorado, and Pam and Chris Foster, and Emma and Abby of Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He also leaves behind his uncle Faruk Latifses and cousin Deniz Latifses of Antalya, Turkey, his uncle Sami, aunt Maude and cousin Ajda Latifses of Paris, France.

His paternal grandparents, Hasan and Najiye Latifses and his maternal great-grandparents, William E. Fowler and Lynda C. Fowler welcomed him home to Heaven. He leaves a host of friends, acquaintances, too many to mention here, and he never met a stranger. Emre rests in peace at Eloise Woods Natural Burial Park. A green burial was very important to Emre, and we honored his request. He laid to rest on February 12th, 2022, in a small, private ceremony in the bitter cold and fierce driving sleet. When prayers were said, the sleet stopped and the sun emerged.

A celebration of Emre's life will occur in Austin, TX at Riverbend Church in the Smith Family Chapel on Saturday, January 7th, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.

Emre was keenly interested in the world around him and had hoped to travel extensively. He will not have that chance, but he would have wanted others to have that opportunity. His mother asks that anyone who wishes to make a gesture can donate to the YYGS program. Donations can be made to the Yale Young Global Scholars Program for students needing financial assistance for tuition. If you would like to give, please use the following link: giving.yale.edu/supportYYGS

The Emre Latifses Legacy Project will launch on Emre's birthday in June of 2023 as a part of The Latifses Family Foundation. More information will be available online soon.