Vladik Lord

Vladik Isaac Nelson Lord, known to most as Vlad, died on June 6, 2026, at the age of 31.

If you asked Vlad what mattered in life, he probably would not have talked about accomplishments, titles, or milestones. He cared about experiences. He cared about people. He cared about laughter, connection, and making memories. One of his favorite sayings was, “All you have are memories,” and in many ways, that belief shaped how he lived.

Vlad had a smile that people never forgot. When he truly smiled, you felt it in your soul. It drew people in and made people feel welcome. In later years that smile became harder to find, but those who loved him never forgot the light it carried.

Vlad was funny, loving, and fiercely independent. He had a sarcastic sense of humor and an uncanny ability to find something funny even when life was at its hardest. He shared countless inside jokes with his brother, Ivan, and the two could often be found teaming up to lovingly mock their parents, Glen and Tanya. Family gatherings were filled with laughter, teasing, and stories. Vlad had a gift for creating those moments that become family legends, the kind people find themselves retelling years later.

He was gifted athletically and seemed to excel at nearly everything he tried. Soccer, track, and bodybuilding came naturally to him. He proudly served in the National Guard and later worked as a personal trainer, sharing his knowledge and encouragement with others. Whether working with experienced athletes or someone stepping into a gym for the first time, Vlad wanted people to believe in themselves. He loved helping others discover strengths they did not yet see.

Those who knew Vlad also knew his gentleness. Beneath his strength was a deeply caring heart. While his path was often difficult, one thing remained constant: Vlad was deeply loved by his family, and he loved them in return.

Many people saw Vlad’s strength, but fewer saw the depth of the pain he carried. The pain was real and profound, though he often bore it quietly. Those who loved Vlad know that strength and suffering can exist side by side. He carried both throughout much of his life. His struggles never defined him; they were only one part of a much larger story. Even during his hardest times, he continued to reach out to others, offer support, share a laugh, and look for moments of connection.

Vlad died from an overdose. His family chooses to be open about overdose as the cause of his death in the hope that honesty can help reduce stigma and encourage deeper understanding. They hope his story serves as a reminder that every person who is experiencing suffering and uses drugs deserves compassion, support, connection, dignity, and every opportunity to be safe. Too often people see only what is visible on the surface and miss the pain that may lie beneath. His family hopes that sharing this truth openly will help others respond with empathy rather than judgment.

Many people knew Vlad online as “Vlad the Uprising.” It was a fitting name. Despite the challenges he faced, he continued to get back up and keep moving forward. Songs like Never Give Up and Fight Back by Neffex resonated with him because they reflected something essential about who he was: resilient, determined, and unwilling to stop trying.

If Vlad could leave one message behind, it might be this: live life the way you want to live it. Make time for the people you love. Embrace the moments. Don’t wait for someday to be happy. The moments are what matter.

Vlad is survived by his parents, Glen and Tanya Lord; his brother, Ivan Lord; his aunt and uncles, Nina, John, Ayo, and Brian; his cousins, Ethan, Pascale, Jessica, Emily, Alice, Irene, Madeline, and Addison; and many friends and loved ones whose lives are richer because they knew him. He is predeceased by his brother Noah, Aunt Heather and Grandparents Byron, Ronna and Gretchen.

His family hopes those who loved Vlad will honor his memory by finding reasons to laugh, staying connected to one another, creating memories, and never taking time with those they love for granted. After all, as Vlad often reminded us, “all you have are memories.”

Arrangements are under the direction of the new Conroy-Tully Walker Cremation, Funeral, and Gathering Center, 300 Allen Avenue, Portland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Vladik’s memory to The Sun Will Rise Foundation, which provides peer grief support and resources for individuals and families affected by substance-use-related loss. The contact information is listed below: