An Important Message for the Tufts Community

February 18, 2015

Dear Members of the AS&E and Medford/Somerville Campus Communities,

We are very sad to inform you of the death of Julia Lee A16.Julia and her parents, Aesoon and Warren Lee of Hong Kong, lost their lives in a car accident while traveling as a family yesterday in New Zealand. Julia’s younger brother has also been hospitalized as a result of the accident. Julia, a Computer Science major in the College of Liberal Arts, was about to begin a study abroad program at the University of Auckland through Arcadia University in a few days’ time.

This loss is a tragedy for all who knew and loved Julia and her parents, and for Julia’s faculty members, advisors, classmates, and friends. This is also a loss for all members of the Tufts community. Julia was a young woman of tremendous vibrancy and compassion and she will be deeply missed. 

For members of the Tufts community who would like to come together, gatherings will be held tonight at 9:00pm and tomorrow at noon in Goddard Chapel.

We encourage those close to Julia to contact our University Chaplain, the Reverend Greg McGonigle (Greg.McGonigle@tufts.edu), if they are interested in planning a campus tribute to Julia’s life, and we can also provide a way to send messages of support to her brother and other relatives.

A number of resources are available to all members of our community who wish to seek support in the days ahead and contact information is listed below. Please do not hesitate to reach out to these resources and others in our community. We will write again with additional information as we work with those close to Julia to plan a campus celebration of her life.

Sincerely yours,

Anthony P. Monaco, President

James M. Glaser, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences

Linda Abriola, Dean of the School of Engineering

Mary Pat McMahon, Dean of Student Affairs

The Reverend Greg McGonigle, University Chaplain

For Students:

The University Chaplaincy Office in Goddard Chapel is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm, and all of the chaplains can be contacted for pastoral care.

The Counseling and Mental Health Service will be holding walk-in hours between 12:00–1:00pm each day for the rest of this week and next week. CMHS is also open for regular appointments weekdays from 9:00am-5:00pm by calling 617-627-3360.

Staff in Student Affairs are available for walk-in support between 2:00-5:00pm this week in Dowling 701 or by appointment at 617-627-3158.

Additionally, there is always a counselor, chaplain, and administrator available on call after hours who can be contacted through TUPD at 617-627-3030.

For Faculty and Staff:

Faculty and staff may contact the Tufts University Chaplaincy as well as Tufts Employee Assistance Program (http://hr.tufts.edu/benefits/employee-assistance-program/) for support.