Andrew Dorogi ’18, an economics major and varsity football player from Cleveland, Ohio, died on Friday, March 16. President Biddy Martin announced his death in an email to the college community on Sunday, March 18.
“Andrew touched the lives of so many students, faculty, coaches and staff on our campus and his sudden death is a profound blow,” Martin wrote in a second email on Monday. She urged students to take care of themselves and provide comfort and support to others.
On Monday night, an open community gathering was held in Cole Assembly Room. The group, a mix of students, coaches and faculty who filled the room to capacity, shared memories of Dorogi and thoughts on how to honor him and comfort to grieving friends. In the middle of the room, a large picture of Dorogi’s senior year roster photo stood surrounded by flowers.
Martin began the gathering with a brief speech before opening up the floor for students, staff and faculty to speak.
“It’s a long process, the work of mourning the loss of someone who’s loved,” Martin said. “And tonight is just one form of beginning that process.”
Many people remembered Dorogi for his friendliness, humor and enthusiasm for life. Friend and fellow teammate Kevin Sheehan ’18 said, “To me, Dorogi was just a guy with a huge heart … He was the kind of guy that would always put a smile on your face, no matter what.”
Sheehan shared a memory of Dorogi living in Charles Pratt during his freshman year.
“It didn’t matter what he was up to, everybody was in his room,” Sheehan said. “He wanted that though — that’s who he was. He wanted company, and he wanted to make people happy; he wanted to be with everybody.”
Associate Dean and Director of the Counseling Center Jackie Alvarez closed the gathering with a reminder to students to seek help and support from the college community. In her earlier email, Martin also encouraged students to use the resources made available by the college in the days following Dorogi’s death.
“This is a time for us to reach out to one another and ensure that no one is isolated in their efforts to deal with Andrew’s loss,” Martin wrote.
The Counseling Center will be offering open hours for drop-in consultation and small private group sessions on Wednesday, March 21 at 11 a.m., March 26 at 11 a.m., March 27 at 3:30 p.m., March 28 at 1:30 p.m. and March 29 at 11 a.m.
Boards to write messages and make cards have been posted outside Chapin Chapel, in the Founders Room in Alumni Gymnasium and in Keefe Campus Center.
Your comments are helping us deal with this tragedy. It’s so good to know how much Andrew is loved! Please keep his family in your prayers! We need them and we know Andrew is in Heaven but to deal with this is soooo hard!
Everyone's dream, his amazing days at Amherst, his bright future, his proud family, all ended in an instant. This sudden tragedy is unacceptable. I have never met Andrew, but just had to express my condolences to his family. My daughter is an alumni class of '89, and know that Amherst is a very special place. I reflected on the wonderful world it opened up to my family. Heartbreak was not in the Dorogi's family future. I had to write and express my profound feelings of sorrow to his devastated family. Love never ends!