In the weeks following the passing of Cal Poly student Sofia Padoan, nearly 1,000 comments flooded her sorority’s Instagram page. Friends, teammates and loved ones from all stages of Sofia’s life shared stories of her uplifting spirit, endless ambition and her love of sharks, nursing and all things crochet.
A junior studying nutrition, Sofia was deeply involved in the campus community through clubs and activities, making connections everywhere she went.
“She was able to make Cal Poly a place that gave her the most amazing life. She just did a really good job of surrounding herself with people who cared about her,” Nicole Padoan, her mom, said.
As president of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Sofia played an instrumental role in fostering an environment of inclusivity for new members.
Brooke Thurston, environmental engineering junior, recalled the comforting presence Sofia brought to the recruitment process.
“All the worries I felt about joining a sorority instantly went away when I met Sofia,” Thurston wrote. “I fell in love with her instantly and thought, ‘If all Kappa girls are like her, I need to get in.’”
Interdisciplinary studies sophomore Ellie Kidd grew close to Sofia as a big-little pair, a bonding process between sorority sisters.
“I remember running home on bid night and looking for her and jumping into her arms,” Kidd said. “I think we both just kind of knew we would be a pair.”
Kidd said she always knew Sofia was there for emotional support and advice, both in and outside of sorority life.
“In my last conversation with her, she gave me a hug while we were talking and I told her, ‘I’m there for you too,’ and she was like, ‘I know, but right now, I’m here for you.’ So that was just a really nice sentiment,” Kidd said.
Family was always a priority to Sofia, even in the midst of a heavy school schedule, long sorority council meetings and early morning shifts at Scout Coffee.
“She always made time for us,” Nicole Padoan said. “Sometimes high school and college kids quarrel lots with their siblings and mine didn’t. They just really cared about each other.”
Sofia, who grew up in the East Bay, leaves a long-standing impact through several years of leadership positions from a young age.
Not only was Sofia student government vice president, she was the captain of her lacrosse team at Northgate High School, as well as a member of varsity golf and soccer. Teammates remember her for her talent and sportsmanship on and off the field.
“I was on the golf team with her in high school. She always showed up to practice with a smile on her face, regardless of the way she was playing,” teammate Gia Feliciano said.
Nicole Padoan describes her attitude towards sports as similar to her attitude towards many aspects of her life – always wanting to improve herself and make a difference.
“I can attest to the fact that Sofia was the type of person who saw a goal, especially physical fitness or achievement-wise. She did what was needed to get there,” Nicole Padoan said.
Deeply proud of her heritage, Sofia took yearly summer trips to Murano, an island in Venice, Italy, playing with her younger cousins, going out to eat and spending time on the beach.
Her mom fondly recalls nights out to the town’s festivals as a family.
“We would just get a giant group together and we would eat, and she would be right in front of the music, dancing,” Nicole Padoan said.
Her passion for learning and her culture was evident through her time in the Italian Club. Members recall the positive attitude and excitement she brought to each meeting.
“When she loved something, she really loved it,” the Italian Club told Mustang News. “She also taught us so much about Italian and never got annoyed when we asked too many questions.”
A celebration of life will be held this Friday, March 22 in Sofia’s hometown, Walnut Creek. Information about the event or ways to donate to her family can be found on their GoFundMe page.