Dylan Geller lived just 20 years, but in that time he left behind the kind of legacy most hope to achieve in a lifetime.

A Rowan University student, Eastern High graduate and proud Voorhees native, Dylan passed away this summer after suffering an epileptic seizure while jet skiing with his brother, Chase.

In the wake of that heartbreak, his siblings, Chase and Sydney, have channeled their grief into purpose by creating Do It Like Dylan, a foundation dedicated to epilepsy research, scholarships for future special education teachers and life-saving epilepsy safety legislation.

“Dylan was joy personified,” Sydney recalled, her voice full of both pain and pride. “He was just silly. Whether at school or at home with our family, he was happy to be there and happy to do it. He loved music, especially country music, he loved Philly sports, and he cared deeply about kids and those with special needs. He was going to minor in physical education because he wanted to help the community.

“That was Dylan: kind, joyful and inclusive.”

Dylan was diagnosed with epilepsy at just 12 years old. Though seizures created obstacles and forced him to live cautiously, his siblings said he met every challenge with resilience.

“It was tough, especially when it happened in front of classmates at school,” Sydney noted. “He just wanted to be normal, to play and do everything everyone else did. But he persevered. He played sports, got his license later than most kids and found ways to live fully despite his diagnosis.

“He defined his own normal.”

Chase added that his brother’s determination was inspiring, but also a cautionary reminder.

“You can’t get comfortable with epilepsy,” he explained. “Dylan went four years without an attack, and we thought maybe things were better. But epilepsy can strike out of nowhere. That’s something people need to understand.”

The family also became Dylan’s quiet support system, reminding him to take his medication, encouraging him to rest and watching out for potential triggers.

“We were protective of him,” Sydney said softly. “We cared for him in every way we could.”

Beyond family and friends, Dylan made an indelible mark on students with special needs at Eastern in a class for them called Room 17, where he volunteered.

“The kids loved him,” Chase recounted. “When he walked in, they lit up. There were 2,300 kids at Eastern, but Dylan took the time to make those students feel seen and valued. In their eyes, he was a superstar.”

Those experiences fueled Dylan’s dream of working in special education, a dream his family now hopes to keep alive through scholarships in his name.

The morning after Dylan’s passing, Chase said a grief counselor gave him advice that stuck.

“She told me, ‘If you do nothing, then no good will come from this,'” he remembered. “Dylan’s life meant too much to let it end there.”

So the family launched Do It Like Dylan. The name, Chase noted, came naturally.

“Everyone has struggles, and Dylan had plenty – epilepsy, learning disabilities – but he never let them define him,” Chase emphasized. “He lived the same life as me: He drove a car, went to college, had friends, girlfriends, played sports. You would never know he was sick.

“That’s the meaning of Do It Like Dylan – to live fully, no matter what you face.”

Sydney agreed.

“What 20-year-old can you say has touched that many people?” she wondered. “Dylan wasn’t just trying to be good – he was good. And if he could see what we’re doing now, I know he’d be proud.”

The Geller family hopes to host its foundation’s first major event, a walk/run, on Saturday, Nov. 15, what would have been Dylan’s 21st birthday.

“We want the community to join us in celebrating his life and carrying his spirit forward,” Sydney said.

For now, the foundation has launched a website and social media presence, encouraging supporters to donate, spread awareness and follow along as it begins awarding scholarships in the spring. Even in grief, the family says working on the foundation brings healing.

“When we were building the website, it was a chance to think about who Dylan was,” Sydney pointed out, “not just the pain of losing him, but the joy he brought. He was sunshine. And we don’t want him – or his spirit – to ever be forgotten.”

Though his life was cut short, Dylan Geller’s siblings are determined to ensure that the world knows his story, and that others benefit from the causes he cared so deeply about.

As Sydney put it: “Dylan lived a life in 20 years that most people don’t live in 90. That’s his legacy. And through this foundation, we’ll make sure it continues.”

For more information or to support the foundation, visit Do It Like Dylan on social media or the official website at doitlikedylan.org.