Students, Faculty Mourn Death of SMG Student
Adam Robert Engel recalled as excellent student, excellent friend
Some came alone. Some arrived in pairs. Many were crying. All of them had gathered to mourn the sudden death of Adam Robert Engel (SMG’12), a straight A student majoring in business administration. Engel died after falling in the lobby of a hotel just a few blocks from campus just after midnight on Saturday.
Students, faculty, and staff gathered in a second floor conference room at the School of Management building on Sunday for an open counseling session to help them deal with their grief over the death of the promising junior.
Elizabeth Kozik, a crisis counselor with Student Health Services, says the purpose of Sunday’s session was to provide a place for students to gather and comfort one another and for faculty and staff to provide support for students. “We want the students to know that they’re not alone at this time,” says Kozik, “that there’s support here for them at all times.”
Students at the counseling session described Engel, a Boston University honors student, as well-liked and a great friend. Many cried as they recalled their classmate. Boxes of tissue littered the conference room.
Engel, a native of Old Bethpage, N.Y., worked in the School of Management’s Feld Career Center and lived at 17 Buswell Street. He would have turned 20 on Sunday.
Boston Police Department spokeswoman Jill Flynn says police were called to the scene at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Boston, a few blocks from campus, at 1:15 Saturday morning. Flynn says police found Engel lying on the floor of the lobby with no pulse and not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Boston Police, who are investigating the unattended death, say there is no suspicion of foul play.
“Our community has suffered a great loss,” says Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore. “I encourage everyone to reach out and offer sympathy to each other in this moment of tragedy.”
Sandra Procopio, an SMG assistant dean, who attended Sunday’s counseling session, says Engel was an outstanding student and a wonderful person.
“Adam was very active in the SMG community,” Procopio says. “But what I really remember about him is that he always had a smile on his face.”
Ted Mejia (CAS’12), who roomed with Engel, says his friend will be greatly missed. “All of us, all of his friends, are really shaken by how sudden this was,” says Mejia. “He was a great person. He was one of the best people I ever met.”
“He was a very good person,” says friend Cody Hayden (CAS’11), “a great person. This is just horrible.”
“He always knew how to make someone feel loved,” says Kate Polacikova (SMG’12), who was close to Engel. “He was always there for anyone who needed him. He was a great and loyal friend and will be forever missed.”
Counseling is available from Marsh Chapel chaplains and at Student Health Services. Chaplains can be reached at 617-353-3560. SHS counselors can be reached at 617-353-3575. A 24-hour counseling hotline is available at 617-353-3569.
Art Jahnke can be reached at jahnke@bu.edu. John O’Rourke can be reached at orourkej@bu.edu.
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