Student Dies in Sleep at Home

Classmates remember Tori Rubino (COM’09) as talented, fun

By Art Jahnke

Victoria “Tori” Rubino, a popular senior in the College of Communication, was found dead in her bed at her Upper Saddle River, N.J., home on Sunday afternoon. Bergen County police said it appeared that Rubino had died in her sleep.

Rubino (COM’09) had had her wisdom teeth removed by dentists in her hometown two days before, and police said she had been prescribed Tylenol with codeine, but that there was no evidence that drugs played a role in her death. Autopsy results were not yet available.

Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore says the University community is deeply saddened by the news of Tori Rubino’s death.

“From my conversations with people who knew her,” says Elmore, “I know that Tori was a gracious friend and an active member of this community. We are fortunate to have known her and enjoyed her contributions. Whether you are on campus or off, I encourage you to keep Tori and her family in your prayers and to contact my office if you would like assistance.”

Roommate and close friend Amy Gromek (COM’09) says Rubino was the kind of person who could always be counted on if you needed help.

“She was always selfless,” says Gromek. “She was always willing to help you. The last time I saw her she was calming me down before midterms.”

“Tori was hilarious,” says Juliana Potts (CAS’09), who met Rubino freshman year and roomed with her last year in the Student Village. “You could just sit around with Tori for hours and have more fun than at any party. She had just gotten into photography, and she was always making us pose for pictures.”

Rubino, 21, lived in the Student Village; she studied in Sydney, Australia, last summer, and in London during the fall semester. Friends said she was applying to graduate school to study film and dreamed of working as a film critic. She was a talented dancer and had been vice president and treasurer of the dance group BU on Tap.

“She had so many friends,” says Leeor Vaserman (COM’09). “She could make people laugh with these one-liners. And she was a great writer, just so talented. She just made everything fun.”

Counseling is available at Student Health Services at 881 Commonwealth Ave., 617-353-3575. A 24-hour counseling hotline is available at 617-353-3569.

Art Jahnke can be reached at jahnke@bu.edu.

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