Whether it’s for his charismatic personality or his decision to make Jessica Simpson’s “Public Affair” his ringtone, William Gage is remembered with love and affection by his friends at Binghamton University.

Gage, who was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and attended BU until the spring 2007 semester, was pronounced dead at a friend’s home in Jericho, N.Y. early Saturday morning.

The cause of death has not yet been determined.

Gabriela Barreto, a senior human development major, described Gage as a genuine free spirit, someone who would see the good in life and question the unquestionable.

“Will was great, full of life. One of those kids who you knew was too big for this world,” said Chris Balas, a graduate student at BU. “He was a friend to everyone, not one of those guys on State Street trying to start a fight with you. A genuinely nice kid.”

“It’s cliche, but the brightest stars really do burn out the quickest,” he added.

Nick Sepe, a member of Phi Kappa Psi who attended the funeral on Thursday, said at least 60 people from Binghamton were present.

“When we were at the cemetery itself after the burial, everyone was just standing around, almost like he would come back,” Sepe said. “He was just that person, who would fight so much for anything and for anyone for no particular reason.”

Speakers at the funeral described Gage as someone whose smile could light up a room, according to Sepe.

“He was the type of person that would genuinely smile because he wanted to smile, and be your friend because he wanted to, not because later on he’d need to ask you a favor,” Sepe said. “There was nothing bad about him; he was always a great kid.”

Will Reimer, another member of Phi Kappa Psi, described Gage as someone who really cared about everyone and was willing to help people out.

“He was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” Reimer said. “He gave himself to our fraternity and he did everything he could to build it and make it better. He was extremely close to everyone.”

According to Joe Clerici, a biotechnology graduate student who was also a member of the fraternity, Gage often volunteered at the Binghamton Boys and Girls Club, a program for inner-city kids. Gage would go down on Fridays to talk to the kids, play basketball and help with homework.

“I miss the hell out of that kid,” he said.

Ari Krauss, a junior political science major, sat next to Gage in a creative writing class and remembered his sense of humor.

“We were writing … once a little after Valentine’s Day, and [Will] pulls out of his bag a gigantic pen, like one of those therapy pens, it was pink and the size of a cucumber and had a big red heart at the top,” Krauss said.

As people began to notice, the class stopped, and even the teacher was staring at Gage, said Krauss.

“He looks up and just goes, ‘What? It’s from my mom,’ and goes back to writing,” Krauss remembered.

Gage will be remembered Tuesday, April 29 at 6 p.m. in a memorial service at Newman House. All are welcome to attend.

“Everyone who knew him knows Will is happy wherever he has gone to and is watching us all celebrate his amazing journey of life on earth,” Barreto said.