Fraternity Brother dies

LXAAlum · #1 04-10-2002, 03:01 PM

From UWire Today:

MADISON, Wis. -- A University of Wisconsin-Madison male undergraduate died Sunday, due to sudden onset diabetes. According to a member of Chi Phi, his fraternity, the student also had mononucleosis, which may have been a contributing factor in his death.

The student was not on campus but had returned to his hometown for spring break more than two weeks ago.

John Lucas, a representative of UW-Madison University Communications, said he could not release the student's name because the Dean of Students office had not been in contact with the family yet.

"They've had a really hard time getting a hold of his family under the circumstances," Lucas said.

Lucas said he could confirm the cause of death was Type 1 diabetes.

In Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, a person's pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone necessary to use sugar. The causes are not known completely, but scientists believe the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

The student had mononucleosis when he returned to his hometown for spring break, said UW-Madison junior Luke Dixon, a fellow member of Chi Phi.

"He didn't come back last week because he was going to stay home and rest," Dixon said.

Dixon said the student's parents were out of town during the student's spring break, so he most likely was at home by himself resting and trying to recover from being sick.

Ed Mirecki, a UW-Madison student services specialist who deals specifically with UW-Madison's greek system, said the student was with his family Sunday.

Dixon, a good friend of the student, said he was "probably one of the nicest guys I've ever met in my life."

Neither Dixon nor any of the other fraternity members were aware the student had diabetes, Dixon said.

"It was an undiagnosed case of diabetes," Dixon said. "And the combination of the mono and the diabetes wore him down."

Chi Phi members will be going to Milwaukee, Wis., later this week for the wake and funeral services, Dixon said.

More information regarding the situation will be made available Tuesday, after a member of the Dean of Students Office makes contact with the family, Lucas said.

Both Mirecki and Lucas said they wanted to be positive someone had made this contact before any more personal information about the student was released, out of respect for the family.

One role of the Dean of Students Office is to offer counseling to families in the case of a student death.

GreekLetterGirl · #2 04-10-2002, 03:06 PM

It is always such a shame when such a young life is taken ... my prayers are with the family and brothers

dzrose93 · #3 04-10-2002, 03:17 PM

So sorry to hear about the young man's death. God bless him and his family.

SATX*APhi · #4 04-10-2002, 03:39 PM

My prayers will be with his family, brothers and friends. God bless them all.

XOAlumXO · #5 04-10-2002, 04:51 PM

So sorry for the sad news. I'll keep him in my prayers.

Tom Earp · #6 04-10-2002, 06:21 PM

Another Tragic story of losing a fellow Greek! My prayers go out to his Greek Brothers and his Family!

It once again is a lose for all of us!

The1calledTKE · #7 04-10-2002, 06:33 PM

My prayers go out to his family

lifesaver · #8 04-10-2002, 07:02 PM

My prayers are extended on behalf of my chapter. It sucks.

ElleDelta3 · #9 04-11-2002, 06:00 PM

It really is a terrible thing that happened. The worst part about it though is that there really has not even been form of recognition at UW Madison. This story was mentioned in only one of the two student newspapers (it so happened to be in the one that most students do not read). Granted this happened over last weekend and it was not fully announced until Monday or Tuesday, I wonder if there will be some kind of Greek memorial for him. Hopefully something will get mentioned in chapter on Monday. I will keep all posted!

ElleDelta3
UW Madison

James · #10 04-11-2002, 08:12 PM

Well if there isn't one scheduled I am sure you that you will take the initiative do do so . .. I certainly would. If you need information on how to set it up. Give me a PM or email . . .

Quote:

Originally posted by ElleDelta3
It really is a terrible thing that happened. The worst part about it though is that there really has not even been form of recognition at UW Madison. This story was mentioned in only one of the two student newspapers (it so happened to be in the one that most students do not read). Granted this happened over last weekend and it was not fully announced until Monday or Tuesday, I wonder if there will be some kind of Greek memorial for him. Hopefully something will get mentioned in chapter on Monday. I will keep all posted!

ElleDelta3
UW Madison

Peaches-n-Cream · #11 04-12-2002, 02:04 AM

That's so sad.

xp2k · #12 04-12-2002, 05:48 AM

An unfortunate and untimely death...
Our Fraternity is deeply saddened by this tragic loss.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the brothers at Kappa Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Christopher
Chi Phi Fraternity-Iota Delta Chapter
Indiana University-Bloomington

AXO Alum · #13 04-12-2002, 10:51 AM

(I tried to post this the other day and it was being all weird, so I'll try again...)

I am so sorry to hear about this - we lost a very dear sister in our chapter a few years back to that too. It is tragic. We are still a "young" chapter (only 20 years on campus) and already we have lost 2 of our members who died young.

We have established 2 alumnae scholarships for the collegians in their names, and would love to see Chi Phi pay tribute to this young man in such a way. It is a very positive way to keep his memory alive, and to let his family know that you still care and will never forget. I know that both the families of our girls are constantly supported by our chapters and that it is such a blessing to them.

My thoughts and prayers to his family and his brotherhood!