When a fire broke out at an Oakland warehouse on Dec. 2 killing 36 people, Benicians were shocked to learn that one of the victims, Travis Hough, was a Benicia High School graduate who had lived in the town for most of his life.

Hough graduated from Benicia High in 1999 and graduated from California College of the Arts in 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and media arts.

“The CCA community extends condolences to his family and loved ones,” the college wrote on its Facebook page.

Performing under the name Travis Blitzen, Hough had found his calling as a musician with the electronica band Ghost of Lightning. The group was officially classified as electronic but with many songs also paying tribute to ‘80s goth rock and synthpop and even doing live covers of “Ashes to Ashes” by David Bowie, an idol of Hough’s.

Ghost of Lightning had ambitions beyond just playing music, with Hough envisioning the project as music therapy for others and for himself to help understand his own psyche. Over the summer, Ghost of Lightning joined the Oakland-based company Mixtape Artist Management, which described Hough as spirited, creative and fun to work with.

“Travis created his musical project, Ghost of Lighting as a means of exploring and understanding his own psyche,” Mixtape Artist Management wrote on its website. “He believed that healing through music is not only possible, but also necessary, and shared that belief with others in everything that he did.”

Hough’s therapeutic skills were also evident in his day job as an expressive arts therapist at Montalvin Manor Elementary School in Richmond who used music and art as a means for students to help understand themselves.

“Mr. Travis worked with the Montalvin students, staff, and families for the past 3 years and was loved by all,” Montalvin Principal Katherine Acosta-Verprauskus wrote on the school’s website. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of this incredible human being, who through expressive arts, taught our students about empathy, compassion, and how to cope with their feelings.”

Hough’s loss was also felt in the community he grew up in. The Benicia Teachers Association paid its respects on its Facebook page, Arts Benicia expressed condolences in its December newsletter and even the City Council adjourned its Dec. 6 meeting in honor of Hough.

His strong qualities were evident to those who knew him.

“I hadn’t seen him in years, but he always kept a special place in my heart because of his amazing spirit,” Chelsea Bearce, who graduated with Hough in 1999, said. “He was always so kind and never had a negative thing to say about anybody. He was so talented and will be severely missed.”

“Travis was our neighbor and went to school with my oldest son,” Lisa McVeigh said. “I remember him as kind and soft spoken.”

“He was just a nice, thoughtful kid,” Lucy Grijalva, a friend of Hough’s parents, said. “He once came across my escape-artist dog running the streets and took the time to bring him home to me, even though it made him late to school.”

Two crowdfunding campaigns have been set up for Hough’s family as well as his fiancee. A GoFundMe page set up by family friend Yannis Valencia Houser, was established to assist with transportation, burial and service expenses as well as time off from work for the family to mourn. Although the campaign exceeded its initial $20,000 goal, donations are still being accepted at gofundme.com/travis-hough-serviceexpenses-fund.

Additionally, another crowdfunding effort for Hough’s fiancee, Louisa LeMauviel, was set up to help her pay rent and bills, seek therapy for grief and be able to take time off from work. This site is also still accepting donations at youcaring.com/louisalemauviel-709203.