Daniel Jagoda saw his grandfather recover from cancer, but he didn’t have enough time with Anthony Ricca, his other mentor in life, when he was fighting the life-threatening disease.
Jagoda, a second-year atmospheric, oceanic and environmental science student, said he decided to participate in this year’s Relay for Life in support of loved ones who battled against cancer, including his grandfather, Ron Merrihew and long-time family friend Ricca, who was by Jagoda’s side from the day he was born.
Jagoda lost Ricca to pancreatic cancer and witnessed his grandfather fully recover from throat cancer, he said.
Both men were role models for Jagoda and inspired him to join the Air Force ROTC program at UCLA. After Jagoda graduates from UCLA, he said he will be a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.
Several years ago, Jagoda said he remembers noticing his grandfather – a former colonel in the Marine Corps – having difficulty talking and breathing. At the time, he said he mistook the symptoms of throat cancer for signs of old age.
After his grandfather was diagnosed with cancer when Jagoda was 16, Jagoda watched him slowly recover through a series of treatments and medications.
Ricca passed away a year later.
Jagoda said Ricca’s family and his family knew each other before he was born. Ricca, who didn’t have a son of his own, thought of Jagoda as a son, said Daniel Jagoda’s mother, Denise Jagoda.
Ricca was at every birthday and holiday throughout Jagoda’s childhood and teenage years until he moved away to a distant neighborhood and the two lost touch with each other.
Years later, Jagoda visited Ricca after hearing that he was struggling from pancreatic cancer. Jagoda was by Ricca’s bedside two days before he died at the age of 52.
After Ricca’s death, Jagoda said he realized how much he loved Ricca and how much his second dad loved him in return.
Jagoda wasn’t able to fully express his love for Ricca while he was alive, so he said he wanted to show his love for his family and friends by participating in Relay for Life with his mother and brothers from Theta Chi this year.
“Basically we aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow,” Jagoda said. “We shouldn’t put off loving other people in our lives (who) matter to us.”
Compiled by Hee Jae Choi, Bruin contributor.