Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Burnett's belated email; Mathews' death a suicide


     JULY 16: IVC Pres. Glenn Roquemore has forwarded Saddleback President Tod Burnett’s email to his college community, sent late Sunday, entitled “Condolences and BGS Building Update.”
     Unsurprisingly, the recent (July 8) fire at Saddleback College has been devastating:
     On Thursday afternoon I returned from a week of rafting through the Grand Canyon and learned for the first time about the tragic fire that occurred on our campus that took the life of student Jacob Mathews. Like you, I was devastated by this tragedy. Nothing breaks our hearts more than the sudden loss of one of our promising students. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jacob’s family and friends, and on Friday we reached out to the family to extend our deepest condolences and support for them during this most difficult time.

     We all react to loss in different ways and I encourage you to reach out to your fellow students, colleagues, family, and friends during this stressful time. Please know that Saddleback College is here for you, and if you or anyone you know might need additional support, please take advantage of our many campus services….

     The fire caused significant damage to classroom 356 in our Business and General Studies Building (BGS). Immediately after the fire was contained, our college and district personnel began working around the clock to repair the damage and minimize the impact to students and faculty. All three floors of BGS are closed, but we expect to reopen the building on Monday, July 22nd and all classes originally located in BGS will resume as scheduled….

     I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the outstanding leadership and efforts undertaken by many staff, management, and faculty at the college and district in dealing with this tragedy…. A big thank you also goes to Police Chief Chris Wilkinson and his officers and staff for their swift and professional response to this emergency….

     …On Friday, some of our college and district personnel met with the county’s investigation team who communicated to us how devastated the family is and asked that their privacy be respected. The team also stressed that no further information can be released until the criminal investigation has been concluded. For these reasons, I am asking our college community to respect and support the county’s process and please only provide constructive support and dispel any rumors while we wait for details….
Saddleback College Student Who Died In Campus Fire Committed Suicide (CBS Los Angeles, July 15)
     A 21-year-old student who died in a fire at Saddleback College last week committed suicide, according to Orange County coroner’s officials.
     Jacob Mathews, of Lake Forest, was discovered around 7 a.m. July 8 in a classroom in the business and general studies (BGS) building on campus.
     The victim suffered second- and third-degree burns and was airlifted to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he died.
     Investigators later ruled the blaze to be an arson….

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...