One of two students found dead on a college campus in Washington in less than 24 hours has been identified.
Family identified Micah Mazzuca as a Western Washington University student who died on October 9 in his obituary. He died from an apparent fall from Nash Hall around 10:30 pm on October 9, the school said in a press release.
The second student was found unresponsive on October 10 in Alma Clark Glass Hall, another residence hall on the university’s campus. The school said the student had died the previous night.
The university said the deaths do not appear to be connected and there is no evidence of foul play or ongoing danger to the community.
Family identified Micah Mazzuca as a Western Washington University student who died on October 9 in his obituary.
GoFundMe
“No words can capture our shock and sadness at these two heartbreaking events, and our thoughts are with the loved ones of our students as their lives are forever changed by their losses. The students’ families have been notified and will be receiving ongoing support from the university and from emergency personnel,” Western Washington University President Sabah Randhawa said in a statement.
Newsweek reached out to Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office and Western Washington University for more information.
Mazzuca’s aunt, Vanessa Grimm, set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the family. The fundraiser has raised over $20,000 so far.
“Mental illness is a real and we need to acknowledge the millions of those who have had suicidal thoughts or for those who have lost their life to suicide. Communities are impacted by this and also families are,” Grimm wrote on the fundraiser.
Grimm said Mazzuca was “loved by so many.”
“Micah was such a bright, creative and musically gifted person. The world will never know the talent they are missing,” Grimm said
Mazzuca was 18. He spent his early months in Swaziland, now called Eswatini, but lived in Olympia, Washington for most of his life.
“Even as a baby, Micah’s smile lit up a room. His joy, sense of humor, and positively contagious personality filled so many lives with so much love,” his obituary states. “From an early age, Micah showed a passion and talent for music and theater. Micah was a star, shining bright from his earliest plays in elementary and middle school to lead roles in his all-time favorite high school productions including The Importance of Being Earnest and Beauty and the Beast.”
After graduating from North Thurston High School in 2024, he attended Western Washington University on a musical scholarship. He double majored in music and education and planned to become a high school choir, drama and English teacher.
He leaves behind his mother, father, stepmother, two brothers and sister.
A celebration of life for Mazzuca is being held on November 9 at 1 p.m. at Westwood Baptist Church in Olympia. Attendees are encouraged to wear Seahawks gear, band merch or vintage sweaters in honor of Mazzuca.
Western Washington University said it will provide support and counseling for students and community members.
“As our community navigates this painful moment, let us remember that it is in times like these that we must lean on each other, mourn together, and not let anyone who may be suffering do so alone,” Randhawa said. “Together, we can find solace and strength in one another, ensuring that our students are remembered not just for their loss, but for the joy they brought into our lives.”
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