STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Several hundred attended a candlelight vigil on Sunday for Timothy Piazza, a New Jersey native and Penn State sophomore, who died after a fall at a fraternity house earlier this month.
The vigil was held at the Old Man patio on the university’s campus, and included members of his family who spoke about Piazza, 19, an engineering student who had graduated from Hunterdon Central Regional High School in 2015 and grew up in Readington Township.
“Many of you knew my brother, but many of you didn’t, which is a shame because he was a really great guy,” said Michael Piazza, according to a report from Centre Daily Times. Michael is a junior at Penn State.
“I can’t say enough about the support we’re getting in this community,” James Piazza, his father, said, according to Centre Daily Times.
Timothy Piazza fell down a set of basement stairs at the Alpha Upsilon chapter house of the Beta Theta Pi on Feb. 2. He was moved right away, but it took nearly 12 hours before an ambulance was called.
Penn State bans alcohol at Greek parties
He was taken to a local hospital on Feb. 3 before being flown to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., where he died on Feb. 4. His death was ruled an accident, but remains under investigation by police. Penn State announced Thursday that the university and its Interfraternity Council agreed suspend fraternity and sorority parties where alcohol is served.
Many of those who spoke during Sunday’s said Timothy was always willing to help those in need, according to Centre Daily Times.
He was a member of the executive board of the group that puts together the annual IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, also known as THON, a 46-hour event that raises money and providing support for families with children diagnosed with pediatric cancer. It begins on Friday and is not affected by the suspension.
Timothy Piazza served as a Red Devil ambassador at Hunterdon Central and on the school’s Teen Prevention Education Program. He volunteered with the Hunterdon Outreach Program to help teach special needs children football, basketball and baseball.
He also took part in the Hopeful Holidays and Readington’s Holiday Gifts Program, donating Christmas and holiday gifts to those in need. In his junior and senior years, he also tutored upper level math and science.
Active in sports, he played football while in high school and was on the spring track team, taking part in shot put, javelin and discus. He was a member of Hunterdon Central’s Homecoming Court in 2014.
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