(Facebook photo credit Daniel Leader)
By Neal J. Riley and Allison McKinnon
Michael DeVito, a 19-year-old sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, died after he was found unconscious by the Boston Police Department at 50 Gardner St. Thursday morning.
BPD was responding to a report of an unconscious person at about 8:30 a.m. and emergency medical technicians were already on the scene, BPD spokesman David Estrada said. DeVito was transported to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.
50 Gardner St. is a house occupied by members of the Sigma Chi fraternity, according to Boston University.
BPD does not suspect foul play at this time, and the the investigation into DeVito’s death is ongoing, Estrada said. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
Zach Monash, who spent his freshman year with DeVito at BU, said DeVito had heart palpitations. Police could not confirm what preexisting condition may have factored in the death.
Many students learned of DeVito’s death through an email from Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore.
“Michael’s passing is a shock for me and also for our students and their families,” Elmore wrote. “During this time of tragedy, I encourage us all to connect and support each other.”
About 50 people attended a counseling session held in the Howard Thurman Center Thursday evening.
A native of Rye, N.Y., DeVito chose to come to school in Boston two years ago as a freshman. Friends and classmates said he had recently declared his major in mathematics.
“He was still a Yankees fan even though he moved to Boston,” said Tony Pahumi, a friend and CAS sophomore who was at the HTC session.
Pahumi reminisced about other things Michael enjoyed.
“He has always loved Shakespeare and was a sensitive guy,” he said. “He always said ‘Titanic’ was one of his favorite movies.”
CAS sophomore CJ Beck said he would remember Michael as a fun-loving guy who had many goals.
“He was really sure of himself and he was so infectious,” he said. “Just so happy and ecstatic in life. He was happy all the time.”
Other friends said Michael cared a lot about his family and talked about them frequently.
“He loved his Mom more than anything and was so proud of her,” said School of Management sophomore Sneha Sett. “He talked about her all the time.”
Sett said Michael was “the best dancer” and the most fun to be around. She remembered a time when they were freshmen and Michael cheered everyone up.
“We were in an elevator full of people and he started singing and dancing, trying to make everyone have a good time,” she said. “That’s the kind of person he was.”
A friend of Michael DeVito's leaves a bouquet at the memorial set up for him on Marsh Plaza Thursday night. (Photo credit: Shannon Young)
Should read “after he WAS found” not “after being found”