Yale Sophomore Found Unresponsive, Cause of Death Unknown
Andre Narcisse (1990 – 2009)
(Source: Yale Alumni Magazine)
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You could never stop learning when you were around him. He was in love with every moment he experienced.
— Jonah Quinn, on classmate and friend, Andre Narcisse
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From the age of three until the end of my 8th grade year, I lived in the village of Freeport, a suburb of New York city, located on the south shore of Long Island. Freeport is one of a handful of small, ethnically diverse, middle-class communities clustered together on the side of the island that was not immortalized in The Great Gatsby.
Freeport, Roosevelt, Hempstead, Uniondale, Baldwin. When I think about my childhood, these are the places that come to mind.
Thus is was with particular shock and sadness that I read of the recent death of a Andre Narcisse, Roosevelt native, in his dorm room at Yale University. A former teacher at Uniondale High School remembers Narcisse as, “probably one of the most brilliant students to come into the science program, if not the school,” and young Andre was greatly missed by both teachers and classmates when he left for Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, at the beginning of his junior year.
The recipient of a National Achievement Scholarship, awarded to Black students who earn high scores on the PSAT, Narcisse was an academic standout at Exeter, where his commitment to academic excellence earned him a spot in Yale University’s class of 2012.
Sadly and ironically, it was at Yale, a place that should have marked the beginning of his young life, that Andre Narcisse passed away. Roommates discovered the 19 year-old in his dormitory room, around 11am on Sunday. He did not respond to attempts to resuscitate. His cause of death is unknown, though police have found no signs of foul play.
On Sunday night, a large group of Narcisse’s friends gathered in a campus chapel to share stories about his life.
On Monday night, more that 300 Yale student gather in the courtyard of Branford College residence for a candlelight vigil in memory of this beloved student.
My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
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Yale students gathered at a Monday night vigil in Andre Narcisse’s memory.
(Source: Yale Daily News)
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Posted by Ajuan Mance
Posted in African American Students, African Americans, Black Students, Current Events, Higher Education, Yale
December 19th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Thank you for your condolences. Just a correction note to your article. Eugerie Andre Narcisse is Queens born, raised in Haiti until 9. Moved back to NY in 1999; lived in Uniondale (where he attended public schools), then Rosedale and moved only to Roosevelt in July 09.