On August 3rd, 2022, MUSIC Matters lost a radiant light in this world. Jilly Wiener was a rising senior at the University of Michigan from Potomac, Maryland. She was soulful, spunky, and loved adventure. Jilly was a yoga instructor, hockey player, and aspiring environmentalist. She had just come home from a semester in Turks and Caicos studying ocean conservation and environmental policy. At 21, it’s rare to come across people as self-assured and determined to make an impact on the world as Jilly was. Her commitment to serving the environment was fierce and authentic. Jilly was a live music fanatic and loved going to concerts. Some of her favorite artists included (but were certainly not limited to) Frank Ocean, Still Woozy, Anderson Paak, Steve Lacy, and Billy Joel. Her favorite song was Love Lost by Mac Miller.
Jilly was a dedicated and valued member of the Talent & Concert Committee of MUSIC Matters. She sat in the front and regularly shared thoughtful input in group discussions. She was calm, light-hearted, and well-spoken, able to engage in conversation with anyone. She had an effortless ability to connect with others, making her an asset to any team she was a part of.
Jilly was a goofball. She was the go-to friend for a lot of things, but especially a good laugh. Jilly was extremely close with her family and had special relationships with each of her siblings, Lindsay and Zach.
You wanted her on your team because you knew that once you forged a friendship with her, she would stand by you no matter what. That’s the kind of friend she was. The kind that showed up no matter the situation or the cost.
If there’s one thing we all can learn from this tragedy, it’s to recognize the key people in your life and hold on to them as tight as we can. Your loved ones – realize their worth intertwined with your own, the intangible give-and-take that occurs in these relationships, and what you’ve gained from that in your own life. What Jilly added to my life couldn’t be reduced to a single adjective or identifier. She was a standup friend, sorority sister, late-night study buddy, workout partner, and fellow T&C member. She taught me how to live life with more optimism and nonchalance. She gave me an abundant memory bank of special moments together that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I hope you will join me and our incredible student organization to help honor this incredible human being.
Links to Jilly’s spotify account below. https://open.spotify.com/user/jilly.rw?si=d2c96b454a724b1b
She had an awesome taste in music, so I encourage you all to check out some of her playlists :)
Written by Zoe Roskin, Talent and Concert Chair, friend