The sounds of a cotton candy machine and the Stony Brook Pep Band are drowned out by the cheers of hundreds of students at the Roth Pond Regatta -- the most notable of Stony Brook University’s spring semester festivals, students, alumni, clubs and organizations on campus make boats out of cardboard and duct tape and attempt to sail them across the manmade pond in the center of the Roth Quad dormitories.
This year though, the day would not be remembered for the gun and glee had by the participants and spectators.
Stephen Stakey, a 19-year-old freshman, collapsed around 1:45 pm after helping his team, the Stony Brook Marching Band, launch their boat.
Stony Brook’s Volunteer Ambulance Corps was immediate in their response to Stakey and subsequently rushed him to the University hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
“Steven fell directly in front of the SBVAC team. He fell directly where the ambulance was. So the response was instantaneous,” Jeffrey Barnett, assistant dean of students, told a reporter from the Stony Brook Independent.
Facebook, the social networking website, has been flooded with responses to Stakey’s death. A group titled “R.I.P. Stephen Stakey 5/2/08” was up within 12 hours of his death. The group is currently up to 805 members, who use discussion boards to pass around information about his life, death and funeral arrangements.
Postings on his personal page, from friends started at 9:40 pm the night of the tragedy, May 2. Geoffrey Bansen wrote on Stakey’s “wall,” the posting area, “Stakey we all love you. God bless.”
Lately, the postings on the group page, have become skeptical of the procedures taken by the ambulance corps and the hospital. “The autopsy is still pending?” posted Ivy Liu. “I’m an emt-b…does anyone know why Steven was not resuscitated on scene? I think he should have been,” posted David Francis.
Some students did not even know Stakey, but leave their condolences on the group page. “I have never met him. But rest in peace Stephen,” posted Ken Udoji. “I have never met Stephen, but from the messages and videos he seemed like an amazing, bright young man. It makes you realize how life is so unpredictable and you should live life to its fullest. I give my deep condolences and prayer to his family and friends. May he rest in peace,” posted Jennifer Angley.
Stephen gave an on camera interview to Rohma Abbas, editor-in-chief of the Stony Brook Independent, approximately two hours before his death. “He looked extremely healthy and full of life,” Abbas said, adding, “I was shocked when I found out he had died two hours later. I got chills.”
Stakey was a computer science major from Laurel, NY. He lived on campus and was an active member of the marching band, or as he called himself, a “lavagator”.
The university has not released information about Stakey, including the cause of death. His family could not be reached for comment.
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