February 18, 2003 – December 23, 2025

Max T. Ma

A genuinely caring person with a passion for good

A brother, traveler, sports fanatic and cultural pioneer. Max T. Ma them all, and his fun-filled way of living will be the vessel that carries his memory on forever. A mathematics senior from Roanoke, Texas, Max left his mark on the world through his genuine care and love toward every one of his relationships. His older brother, Michael Ma, is a testament to the extent to which that Max’s kindness imprinted on the hearts of those around him.

“He really, really cared about others,” Michael said. “He really cared about his friends. In fact, like a lot of them describing him and writing tributes to him, like from what I’m reading … there’s some of them that say, you know, he was a once-in-a-generation type of friend.”

Not only was Max a one-of-a-kind friend, but he also paved his own path as a first-generation Aggie. After his parents immigrated from China, he immersed himself in American culture, embracing favorite pastimes like baseball and striving to visit as many national parks as possible. It’s this eagerness to live life to the fullest that colors Michael’s memories of Max so vibrantly.

“And so it was kind of like a blending and meshing of cultures for me and Max,” Michael said. “Just knowing, getting, enjoying and learning and indulging in Chinese culture, while also having our parents being able to learn and indulge in American culture as well. So a lot of that stuff was fascinating, too, just the fusion and the blending of the two cultures and being a part of it.”

Max’s passion for blending cultures didn’t stop at a point of self-interest. Set ablaze by the flame of the Aggie Spirit, Max was determined to share it with all those whom he loved.

“Things like Max involving parents into coming to A&M to take part in senior weekend, like them being exposed to American college culture, going to a Texas A&M football game,” Michael said. “You know, just tailgating, like the college nightlife scene, my parents being exposed to that. So it was like, it was really a pleasure to be able to be exposed to things like that and having Max kind of pave and transition that.”

Because of Max’s outward joy, it was extremely difficult to tell that he was struggling, which is something that Michael and some of Max’s friends aim to bring attention to. 

“He’s somebody who never really, quote, unquote, showed signs that he was struggling with mental health issues, struggling with depression and things like that,” Michael said. “And so there’s an aspect of this in mental health awareness. So there’s an aspect of this here locally around his high school, around where he grew up, that there’s a huge support group that’s building, and that’s going on with mental health and with suicide prevention.”

Michael highlighted the importance of being able to recognize and identify signs of depression, especially in young men who may feel emotionally restrained or influenced to suppress their struggles. With fond memories of Max in his mind, he wants to make it known that counseling is a viable option for all, and emotional communication within a trusted circle is crucial. To further emphasize this message, Michael and a group of Max’s friends have started a nonprofit aimed at increasing suicide awareness for young adults called M.A. Health.

A beautifully delicate project such as this could have only been sparked by someone who truly left a mark on every person they encountered, and that is exactly the type of person Max was. After dedicating his life to pouring himself into and genuinely caring for those around him, it is his loved ones’ turn to pick up the torch.

“He always cared about how his friends were doing,” Michael said. “He, sometimes he cared about how they were doing more than himself. So yeah, he was a very, very genuine person.”