2008 Woodie Awards
AC student suffers fatal heart attack
Kerry King
Issue date: 10/9/03 Section: Lead Stories
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On Wednesday, September 17th, at 8:11 p.m., Assumption College Campus Police responded to a medical emergency call in Founders Hall. The location of the emergency, the classroom of Continuing Education professor Brian Curran, became the scene of increasingly heightened emotion and anxiety as Public Safety officers attempted to revive MBA student Ahmed Matar, who had collapsed during his evening class.
Despite the efforts of Public Safety officers, twenty eight year old Matar sadly passed away that evening. Prior to the arrival of local paramedics, Assumption's Campus Police attended to Matar in every way possible, performing CPR and using the defibrillator in hopes of saving the young man's life. A crowd gathered outside Founders Hall as bystanders tried to decipher what was happening inside the building.
According to Neil Castronovo, Dean of Student Development, many individuals commented that "this is what Assumption College is all about," concerning the events which took place as a result of this tragedy.
Following the report of Matar's need for emergency medical assistance, Public Safety officers arrived on the scene instantly, and continued to attend to the situation by contacting members of the Assumption College administration at their residences. Sr. Cathleen Toomey, Acting Director of Campus Ministry, Dr. Charlene Martin, Dean of Continuing Education, and Dr. Catherine WoodBrooks, Vice President for Student Life, all traveled to the hospital, following Matar's transport by ambulance.
Toomey, Martin, and WoodBrooks were present at the scene to attend to Matar's wife as she was informed of his passing. A resident of Framingham, MA, Mrs. Matar did not learn of her husband's death until she arrived at the hospital.
Matar leaves his wife of six months behind, as well as three stepchildren from his wife's previous marriage. As he was born in Lebanon, Matar's relatives are scattered throughout the world, making funeral arrangements difficult. Matar's mother still lives in Lebanon, with his two brothers located in Germany and Australia.
Despite the efforts of Public Safety officers, twenty eight year old Matar sadly passed away that evening. Prior to the arrival of local paramedics, Assumption's Campus Police attended to Matar in every way possible, performing CPR and using the defibrillator in hopes of saving the young man's life. A crowd gathered outside Founders Hall as bystanders tried to decipher what was happening inside the building.
According to Neil Castronovo, Dean of Student Development, many individuals commented that "this is what Assumption College is all about," concerning the events which took place as a result of this tragedy.
Following the report of Matar's need for emergency medical assistance, Public Safety officers arrived on the scene instantly, and continued to attend to the situation by contacting members of the Assumption College administration at their residences. Sr. Cathleen Toomey, Acting Director of Campus Ministry, Dr. Charlene Martin, Dean of Continuing Education, and Dr. Catherine WoodBrooks, Vice President for Student Life, all traveled to the hospital, following Matar's transport by ambulance.
Toomey, Martin, and WoodBrooks were present at the scene to attend to Matar's wife as she was informed of his passing. A resident of Framingham, MA, Mrs. Matar did not learn of her husband's death until she arrived at the hospital.
Matar leaves his wife of six months behind, as well as three stepchildren from his wife's previous marriage. As he was born in Lebanon, Matar's relatives are scattered throughout the world, making funeral arrangements difficult. Matar's mother still lives in Lebanon, with his two brothers located in Germany and Australia.