“How could a human being be that talented, that hilarious and that beautiful at once? How could one person be responsible for so much joy and be the subject of so many wonderful memories?” he wrote in Variety of Rivera, who tragically drowned in a boating accident on July 8.

Colfer, 30, who played Kurt Hummel in the FOX series also remembered the 33-year-old actress as “one of the funniest and most quotable people that I’ve ever met.”

He continued, “Sometimes, I’d become so lost in Naya’s performance, I’d forget I was in the scene with her. Even when her character was tearing mine to shreds, I couldn’t help but respect how brilliantly she delivered the insults.”

On rough filming days, Colfer recalled that you could find Rivera outside enjoying a cigarette in her character’s signature red cheerleading uniform.

“She would raise an invisible glass and say, ‘To being role models!’ or ‘City of dreams, huh?’” he writes.

Colfer also remembered a particularly tense day that involved 18 hours of singing and dancing. During a heated exchange between an actor and director, Rivera turned to Colfer with a mischievous grin and asked, “Is this a bad time to tell someone the DVD player in my trailer isn’t working?”

He wrote that Rivera’s dream was always to become a mother, which came true when she welcomed her son Josey in 2015.

“It was like a missing piece of Naya had finally arrived,” he wrote. “Their connection was magnetic, their affection was radiant and I’ve never seen a person look happier than when Naya gushed over her little boy.”

Calling Rivera the “cool older sister you went to for advice,” the YA author noted that Rivera leaves behind a gaping void.

“To have a friend like her, even briefly, is to be blessed beyond belief,” he concluded. “She is a shining example of the impact a person can have when one lives fearlessly. Her loss is a tragic reminder to celebrate every moment we possibly can with the people we love because the only thing we know for certain about life is how fragile it can be.”