UD Community Mourns Student Death

Sean Newhouse  
News Editor

The Flyer News staff wants to extend our sympathies to Connor Alexander’s family and friends.

At least 350 students, faculty and staff gathered in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on Monday to remember first-year mechanical engineering major Connor Alexander.  

In an email sent on Monday morning, President Eric Spina informed the community that Alexander “was found deceased in Marianist Hall on Sunday evening.”

UD Public Safety is investigating the death, but Spina wrote “there is no evidence of foul play.”

The remembrance service was scheduled to take place in Marianist Hall Chapel. It was relocated to Immaculate Conception, where it was standing-room only, due to the number of attendees.

Representatives from the Counseling Center and Campus Ministry spoke to those who went to the service. Attendees also were able to write messages to Connor’s family.

The funeral is scheduled for noon on Thursday at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church (5720 Hamilton-Mason Road, Liberty Township, Ohio).

A Porches announcement said the university is providing free buses for those who wish to attend the funeral.

“The first bus will leave at 10 a.m. and arrive by 11 a.m. at the church. The second bus will leave at 11 a.m. to arrive by noon. One bus will depart at 1 p.m. to return to campus; the second bus may depart later, depending on events at the church. Buses will depart from and return to the circle in front of the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.”

Connor’s obituary can be read here. It says he was an Eagle Scout who “was an intelligent, inquisitive, caring individual and mentor to many younger Boy Scouts.”

He enjoyed the outdoors and swam competitively in high school. Connor loved learning about World War II and “hoped to someday work on designing tanks.”

In lieu of flowers, his family would appreciate donations to the Dan Beard Council Friends of Scouting in Connor’s memory.

Support services are available through the Counseling Center, Campus Ministry and Housing and Residence Life staff. 

Flyer News: Univ. of Dayton's Student Newspaper