“To the Williams community,
With deep sadness, I write to tell you that first-year student Alex Kemp died yesterday, after a skiing accident on Monday.
I know you will join me in thinking about Alex’s family; his friends, teammates and coaches on the track and cross country teams; his entrymates and JAs; and all the many people who care about him. I am also holding room in my heart for the first responders and medical professionals who treated him after the accident.
We will hold space for anyone on campus who wants to be with others today. Please come to Paresky 201 anytime from 1 p.m. onward today if you wish. Staff from several offices will be on hand to offer support. In the coming weeks, we will also announce a public gathering to honor Alex’s life.
Our staff colleagues have meanwhile arranged counseling and other support resources for any student who wants them. Contact the Dean’s Office, Integrative Wellbeing Services, the Chaplains’ Office, the Davis Center or the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion if you would like to talk to someone. They have all set aside time to help.
Here are a few details about Alex, for those who did not have the good fortune to know him. He came to Williams from Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey, after being recruited by Cross Country coach Dusty Lopez. Christian Brothers has a nationally respected cross country program, and even as a first-year here Alex quickly became a beloved and important member of the team, thanks to his talent and personality. Dusty says, “Alex had a self-assured, positive, kind way about him and it was consistent every day. This made him such a valuable member of our team, even in his first year—above and beyond his obvious gifts as an athlete. He loved being at Williams, being part of our team, and he always knew how to bring others along with him.
Alex’s talent on the course showed right away, as well. He placed first among all first-years at this year’s NCAA championships, and assembled an impressive record across his first year on the Williams squad. Dusty reports that Alex never shied from a challenge and took as much pride in team success as he did in his own. “Alex was fearless and incredibly motivated as a runner, both in training and competition. But even when he didn’t have his own best day, he took sincere joy and pride in seeing teammates do well. The team was always his biggest priority. Our entire team feels a huge sense of loss and grief at this tragic accident. Our thoughts and hearts are with his family, his high school teammates and coaches, and everyone else who was lucky enough to know Alex.”
Like many students at Williams, Alex was enjoying exploring varied interests. In his college application he said he hoped to complete a doctorate in computer science. But he was also enjoying courses in political science and economics. Fred Greene Third Century Professor of Political Science James McAllister, who taught Alex in Introduction to International Relations this fall, says, “Alex was a very thoughtful and totally professional student. I was thrilled that he was looking forward to taking more political science classes. He was also dedicated: He and several of his teammates went to Indianapolis for a track meet the weekend before Thanksgiving break. Despite the fact that they must have been completely exhausted, they set up an extra meeting on Monday to discuss their upcoming final paper with me. Alex did good work and turned in a solid paper on time, without requesting an extension. This diligence and care about his work made him stand out. What a devastating loss his death is to all of us.”
Class of 1969 Professor of Economics Dukes Love, who also taught Alex this fall, said, “Alex was one of the strongest students I’ve taught in 21 years at the college. Economics seemed to come naturally to him, and he took an obvious joy in learning. He had a quiet gift for the subject matter, while at the same time always leaving room for discussion: He might have known the answer, but he wanted to leave room to talk about it.”
Alex’s life in high school gives us some clues to what his future potential would have been, had his life not been cut short. He had volunteered at the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen, a nonprofit restaurant that serves people based on their ability to pay and donates all profits to charity. He also volunteered at iCan Bike, a camp where he helped teach children with disabilities to ride adaptable bikes as a step in their independence. He worked at food drives and Little League and in his school’s investment club.
Alex concluded a moving application essay by saying, “Everyone needs someone to root for them and to remind them to always root for themselves.” That was the spirit described by so many people who knew him. Please join us at Paresky this afternoon to support each other in that same spirit of community.”
Williams College President Maud Mandel
