On Monday, Jan. 26, the University community was informed that freshman Jeremy Huber had died in his Wolman Hall dorm room during the night. He was 18 years old.
The cause of death, as a matter of procedure, is being investigated by the state medical examiner. Preliminary results of police inquiry, according to school officials, reveal no evidence of a crime, contagious disease or self-harm.
Huber was a student in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences from Las Vegas. He planned on majoring in cognitive science.
Before coming to Hopkins, Huber earned the honor of class salutatorian at his high school, West Career and Technical High School.
In their statement informing the community of his death, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Kevin Shollenberger and Dean of Student Life Terry Martinez referred to Huber as “a true student-athlete.” He was a defenseman on the Hopkins varsity lacrosse team and, prior to his Hopkins career, earned the distinction of being a four-time all-state defenseman.
“Those who knew him say he was a bright, considerate, wonderful young man who was excited to be at the University. In his relatively brief time here, Jeremy had earned admiration and respect from teammates, coaches and everyone who is a part of the lacrosse program,” Shollenberger and Martinez wrote.
Such sentiments were echoed by Huber’s coach, Hopkins Lacrosse Head Coach Dave Pietramala.
“We are stunned and deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Jeremy Huber,” Pietramala said in a statement. “Jeremy was a wonderful young man who was extremely well-liked by his teammates and the members of our lacrosse family. He was a considerate, bright young man that loved being a part of our lacrosse program. He was an outstanding representative of Johns Hopkins University and words cannot adequately express the loss we are feeling right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as we all try to work through this difficult time.”
Huber’s high school lacrosse coach, Gary Campo, explained that he was more than just a leader on the lacrosse field.
“Jeremy was just a good kid,” Campo said to The Baltimore Sun. “He was a leader in everything. He was a great student, in the leadership club, he was just that type of person. He had a magnetic personality. I saw it when he was younger, and I had the privilege of coaching him for four years. You have no idea what it’s like here today. Kids on other teams, coaches, parents are calling us. He did have that effect on people. He was a really, really good kid.”
Campo told The Sun that Huber “was literally living out his dream” by attending and playing lacrosse at Hopkins.
News of his death has left a resounding impact on a student body returning from the Intersession break.
“The start of the spring semester is meant to be a day of excitement. It is a time when we reunite after weeks apart to resume our journey of learning and discovery together. This time, however, the beginning of the semester is also a time of sadness as we learn that one of our own will not be continuing the journey with us,” Shollenberger and Martinez wrote.
However, Shollenberger and Martinez noted, “those who knew and cared for Jeremy will always carry his memory in their hearts.”
Huber is survived by his parents, Robert and Nancy, as well as his younger brother Justin.
A memorial service will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in the form of a candlelight vigil. Family, friends and teammates will offer words of remembrance at the Cordish Lacrosse Center followed by a reception at the Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center.
