Alex Teves had been dating Amanda Lindgren for about a year, and was head over heels for her.

The two seemed a perfect couple, beaming with energy in Facebook photos — their smiles showing just how happy they were. They were 20-somethings living life and enjoying every moment of it, standing side by side through it all. They flew to Hawaii together last year. They skied with friends in Colorado earlier this year. They finished graduate school together in May.

It was clear to Teves’ family — here in New Jersey, where he was born and spent the first 13 years of his life, and in Arizona, where he graduated from high school — just how much he cared about his girlfriend.

"He was crazy about her," Barbara Slivinske, an aunt who lives in East Brunswick, told The Star-Ledger today.

So it wasn't surprising how he reacted early Friday morning as the couple was sitting together in a dark Colorado theater, their youthful faces reflecting the glow of a movie screen as a deranged gunman opened fire.

"He protected his girlfriend," Slivinske said. "He pushed her to the ground and protected her and saved her. He's a hero."

Teves, a month into his 25th year of life, covered his girlfriend with his own body, shielding her from the onslaught of bullets sprayed at an audience frantic to escape. Like 11 others at the Aurora, Colo., multiplex, he was shot and killed that morning. Lindgren escaped.

Teves was born in New Jersey and spent his first 13 years in Verona, attending elementary school and living a very suburban life. One next-door neighbor, Jim Foran, remembers him as a quiet and nice boy.

"Always respectful, as I recall," he said.

Colorado Community Mourns 6 Gallery: Colorado Community Mourns

As he reached his teenage years, his family moved to Phoenix, where his father was transferred for work. He graduated from high school there, and attended college locally.

He was smart, and went on to pursue a master’s degree in psychological counseling at the University of Colorado Denver. He met his girlfriend in that program. The two graduated in May, but Teves wasn’t done with school; he was planning to study physical therapy, his aunt said.

His professional interests, in a way, embodied the type of person he was — someone who always wanted to help others, she said. His personality made him a deeply beloved friend and family member.

"A wonderful person. He was very kind and caring," Slivinske said. "He was very good to everyone. Everyone loved him."

One of his friends was also at the multiplex on Friday, and spent several helpless hours not knowing whether Teves was alive or dead. The woman took to Twitter, where she is identified only as Caitlin, to update friends on what was happening.

"Yes. It was my theater. I’m outside, one of my friends is still inside. No one knows what’s going on," she tweeted not long after the shooting, later adding: "Everybody please pray for my friend Alex."

By mid-morning, she had learned of his death.

"Alex Teves was one of the best men I ever knew. The world isn’t as good a place without him," she said, then added: "Alex Teves was a Arizona basketball fan, loved Spider-Man, was an amazing therapist, and died a hero."

The family is planning to have memorial services in Phoenix and New Jersey, but a decision about when they will be held hasn’t been made yet, Slivinske said, adding that her nephew will be missed by many.

"Very considerate, kind, caring," she said. "He just had a heart of gold, as my brother says. You really couldn’t find anything wrong with him."

Shooting at Colorado midnight showing of Batman movie 19 Gallery: Shooting at Colorado midnight showing of Batman movie

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