Alexander William Graf's Obituary
Alexander W. Graf, 22, of Round Hill, passed away at home with his family by his side on March 10, 2012, after a brave, 31-month long battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Alex was the beloved son of Barbara Mercer of Round Hill, and Brad Graf of Leesburg.
Alex was born on September 25, 1989, in Sarasota, Florida, and moved to Loudoun County, Virginia, with his parents when he was two years old. He attended Loudoun County Public Schools and was a 2008 graduate of Loudoun Valley High School. He completed the television and film production program with Loudoun County Public schools and was interested in studying filmmaking. Alex was beginning his freshmen year at Old Dominion University when he was diagnosed with lymphoma.
Alex loved sports and was active in youth basketball leagues for ten years. He was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and a budding videographer who loved the behind-the-scenes aspects of filmmaking. His love of filmmaking began early and continued throughout his life.
While preparing for college, Alex worked as a Washington Post newspaper carrier and as a delivery driver for Vocelli’s Restaurant in Purcellville.
In addition to his parents, Alex is survived by his stepparents, Karen Kyle Graf of Leesburg and Michael Mercer of Round Hill; maternal grandmother Jean Hodge of Virginia; stepbrothers—Zach and Max Aufdenberg of Virginia; aunts and uncles—Lee and Marion Hodge of Maryland; Larry and Linda Graf, and Gary Graf, of Michigan; cousins—Magan, Chelsea, and Taylor Graf of Michigan; and Rhiannon, Dylan, and Gwen Hodge of Maryland; and a host of relatives and friends. He will be missed greatly by all who love him.
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Joyce Graf and William Graf, and his maternal grandfather, Louis Hodge.
A memorial service for Alex will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, 2012, at Loudoun Funeral Chapel in Leesburg. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Capitol Caring Hospice of Leesburg, or foundations for Hodgkin’s lymphoma research and assistance: Fight 2 Win (www.fight2win.org) or the Adam Spector Foundation (www.adamspector.org ).
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