University Community Touched by Newtown Tragedy

A University of Hartford alumna who worked at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown and the six-year-old daughter of two other University alumni were among those killed in the horrific violence that took place at the school on Friday.

Rachel D’Avino, 29, who graduated from the University in 2007 with a BA in psychology, was one of the six staff members at the school who lost their lives in the attack. D'Avino was a behavioral therapist.

Among the 20 children who were killed was Ana Marquez-Greene, the six-year-old daughter of alumni Nelba Marquez '97 and Jimmy Greene '97, a well-known jazz musician. Both attended The Hartt School.

"All of us in the University community join together in expressing our sense of profound grief, loss, and sympathy to Nelba and Jimmy, and to Rachel's family and friends. Our hearts are broken for them and for all of the victims of this unspeakable act," President Walter Harrison wrote in an email to the University community.

"One of the ways that we can honor the victims and deal with our own sense of grief is by coming together as a community in a show of love and support," Harrison said.

This evening, The Hartt Trombone Ensemble will hold a benefit concert to support the families of the Newtown community. The concert will take place tonight (Monday, Dec. 17) from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Millard Auditorium. A suggested donation of $5 will be collected at the door for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund. Click here for more information.

The Center for Community Service encourages those who would like to help the families of the victims to contribute to the United Way’s "Sandy Hook School Support Fund." The Center for Community Service will be continuously updating its “Gift of Service” website as it learns about other ways you can help. Check the links on the lower left side of the “Gift of Service” page, under the heading “Sandy Hook Support.”

The Office of Human Resources Development reminds all faculty and staff that they and their household members can contact the University's Employee Assistance Program if they need help and support during these difficult days.  The Lexington Group, the University of Hartford’s EAP administrator, is available 24/7 by calling 800-676-HELP (4357). The EAP provides confidential, free counseling services to assist employees and their families.


Following is President Harrison's message about the Newtown tragedy:

All of us in the University of Hartford community join our neighbors in Connecticut, and millions of people throughout our nation and around the world, in grieving for those people in nearby Newtown who lost their lives in Friday’s senseless violence. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families, friends, and neighbors of all of the victims of this cruel and hateful act.

The University of Hartford family has been deeply touched by this tragedy. One of the young children who died was Ana Marquez-Greene, the six-year-old daughter of two of our alumni, Nelba Marquez '97 and Jimmy Greene '97. Rachel D'Avino, a 2007 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, was among the six staff members who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Rachel was a behavioral therapist.

All of us in the University community join together in expressing our sense of profound grief, loss, and sympathy to Nelba and Jimmy, and to Rachel's family and friends. Our hearts are broken for them and for all of the victims of this unspeakable act.

As the poet John Donne wrote, “Every man’s death diminishes me.” We remember those who died trying to save others’ lives, and we are thankful for those working so diligently now to respond to this senseless tragedy.

We grieve, we weep, and amid it all, we rededicate ourselves to making this a better world.

Walter Harrison
President
University of Hartford