Gendler Peace Circle became the site of a temporary memorial for Lucas Lee ’25.
The Andover community is grieving the loss of a student who took his own life last Thursday evening.
The school shared the tragic news at an emergency All-School Meeting (ASM) Friday morning and observed a moment of silence for Lucas Lee ’25.
Following ASM, students met in their advising groups before attending a modified class and athletics schedule for the remainder of the day. Revisit days for admitted families were canceled for Friday and Monday. Rebecca M. Sykes Wellness Center (Sykes) was open through the weekend to provide emotional and psychological support, with additional counselors from Riverside Trauma Center available to students. Dr. Amy Patel, Dean of Health and Wellness and Chief Medical Officer, said that Sykes will continue to adjust its care based on community needs.
“If we need to be at this cadence or this level of support until graduation, we absolutely will. We’re going to read where our community is and continue to offer resources, in addition to the ones we currently have, for as long as we need to,” said Patel.
Across campus, there were dorm meetings and gatherings hosted by the chaplains, clubs, and the Office of Community and Multicultural Development (CaMD). Academic workloads and schedules were also adjusted this week, with a 50 percent reduction in assigned work and no major tests or assignments.
Community members remembered their friend, classmate, and teammate by leaving flowers, candles, cards, and other items at different locations on campus. These were moved by the administration to the Gendler Peace Circle, where they remained until Wednesday morning. Patel explained that the school removed the memorial after five days, based on guidelines provided by experts at the Jed Foundation (JED), a national mental health organization that began working with Andover in Fall 2023. JED
“It’s really important to know that we are not just grieving and remembering Lucas, but we are also trying to protect and take care of those who might be impacted in ways that make them vulnerable—to be really clear, that make them more vulnerable to think about suicide,” said Patel.
In a schoolwide email, Susan Esty, Dean of Students and Residential Life, wrote to the Andover community, “We are holding you in our hearts and hoping that you are leaning into your support people both here and off campus… We all have different needs and even a single person has different needs at different times. Do what feels right for you and don’t hesitate to ask for help. We are here for you.”
Students who are struggling or concerned about a friend or classmate should reach out to a trusted adult on campus or go to Sykes, which is open 24/7, according to Patel. Reverend Gina Finocchiaro is collaborating with the Lee family on plans for an on-campus memorial service, according to a schoolwide email from Head of School Raynard Kington.
