Adam Lilling, 35, was described by friends and family as fun-loving and mischievous.

Whether he was editing opinion pieces, assisting with workshops for young journalists or crafting his own candid prose, friends and colleagues said Adam Lilling could only be described as a “constant presence” in the world of the university’s student publications.

Lilling, 35, a former editor of The Diamondback and Mitzpeh and a member of the Maryland Media Inc. board of directors directors and alumni association, died Feb. 27. No cause of death was available as of last night, but it was believed to be accidental.

At The Diamondback, Lilling, who grew up in Silver Spring and graduated from Springbrook High School, began as an opinion writer in the mid-1990s, eventually writing a weekly column called “The Lawnmower Ledger.”

“He had this really distinctive headshot with a cigar in his mouth,” said B.J. Sanford, an editor during the time Lilling worked for the paper. “For a while before people really knew him, they knew him as ‘cigar guy.'”

Chad Capellman, a former Diamondback sports editor, said Lilling’s ability to look at the world through a crystal-clear lens was a defining quality in his work.

“I think that’s one of the things that I liked about him as a reporter: that he was able to be totally honest with what he saw around us,” Capellman said.

Throughout his various roles at The Diamondback — which also included commentary editor, news editor, occasional reporter and summer editor in chief — Lilling’s brazen sense of humor often weaved its way into his work, friends said.

His friend and former Diamondback editor Danielle Newman recounted a time when Lilling obtained documents for a story through a public records request and, upon receiving a bill for the copies he’d requested, delivered the sum to the university’s lawyer in pennies.

Lilling graduated from the university in 1998 with degrees in English and journalism, later earning his master’s at the university’s business school and a law degree from Emory University. But Capellman said his penchant for learning was just one facet of his personality — a natural desire for someone who always strove to better himself.

“He told me he was a Yankees fan because he saw a no-hitter the first time he went to a Yankees game,” he said. “I think when you see that kind of level of achievement somewhere you really remember… it, and I think that speaks a lot about who he was.”

Lilling continued to contribute to journalism at the university as a member of the board of directors of Maryland Media Inc., which oversees The Diamondback, Mitzpeh and a number of other university publications.

He was also part of the Maryland Media Inc. Alumni Association and helped with alumni workshops where former editors and reporters spoke with students.

“He was a real presence there — he really put his all into this,” said Matt Neufeld, who worked with Lilling on the alumni association. “He was smart, and he knew journalism, and he had a really sly sense of humor.”

Sanford said Lilling’s desire to maintain his ties to campus media mirrored his dedication to keeping friendships from those years.

“I just remember him as this constant presence by my side, by the side of the other editors and writers,” he said. “He never lost his connection to the campus and The Diamondback and the students.”

Lilling is survived by his parents, Kathleen and Herb; his sister, Victoria and his wife, Catherine.

kirkwood at umdbk dot com