College Loses Much with Death of Student
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VOL. XIX No. 6 The Gargoyle, Flagler College, St. Augustine, Florida March 14, 1989 College loses much Heath had desire to help_people with death of student Jonathan Heath, a 19-year-old sophomore who died of a heart attack The death of 19-year-old sophomore they knocked on the door of his room this month during Parents' Week Jonathan Alan Heath during Parent's in the lobby west, where he served as end, was the youngest of this year's Weekend left the entire Flagler Col resident assistant. resident assistants, a select group of lege community numb with shock "The parents contacted me ~fter students responsible for meeting the and disbelief. they couldn't get a response from various needs of their fellow students Heath was found dead in his room their son's room," Dean White said. living in the dorms. the morning of Saturday, March 4, "I opened the door with my pass key At the end of his freshman year by is father and Dean of Student and the father followed me in, and Heath underwent the screening pro Services Darwin White. The autopsy Jon was still in bed like he was sleep cess that each R.A. applicant goes results showed that Heath had died ing." through, and was interviewed by of a heart attack, "with no sign of Heath, born September 3, 1969 in three R.A.'s-Duke Dipofi, Doreen foul play, or of drugs or alcohol," Fayetteville, N.C., was the youngest Scurato, and Justina Hughes. Fol according to medical examiner Dr. of this year's 21 R.A.'s-only three lowing the interview the three sub Robert McConaghie. other sophomores have been selected mitted their evaluation to Dean "It's hard to believe that Jon is as resident assistants during the Jonathan Heath Darwin White, supervisor of the really not coming back,'' said sopho past 14 years. As a drama/communi residence hall program. more Stephanie Petito, reflecting the cations major, he was a member of "Jon possesses all of the traits shared feelings of those who knew Ponce Players who took part in every Driving, a member of the Ambas stated above," they wrote, "(poise, him. '' I keep expecting to run into theatrical production since he be sador's Club (formerly Student Re sincerity, honesty, character, ability him, to see his always-smiling-face gan at Flagler in the fall of '87. He cruitment Corps), and had been a to communicate, tolerance, moral to be told that it's all a mistake." had performed his first lead role as former Boy Scout and Y.M.C.A. standards, dependability, level of Heath, a member of the college Adam in "The Apple Tree" the counselor. agreement with residence hall rules choir, was to have sung a solo during Thursday before his death, and was While attending West Orange and regulations, etc.), as well as the choir's performance Saturday to have played the role again Satur High School in Winter Garden he maturity and sensitivity. We feel morning following President William day night. had been a member of the Thespians, his background experience will be of Proctor's welcome to the parents. The Saturday performance was S.A.D.D., Spanish Club, Student great benefit to him, compensating His parents, Donald and Sandra originally cancelled by the director, Council, Young Life, and was voted for his young age. All in all, he had Heath of Winter Gardens, Fla., be Phyllis Gibbs, following the news of as having "Most School Spirit" his an incredibly good interview-and came concerned when he did not Heath's death, but went ahead as junior year. we are all in strong agreement. appear, and received no answer when scheduled at the request of Heath's He leaves behind his parents, two he's a go! We have no hesitations parents. The cast dedicated the per brothers, a sister, and countless about Jon, whatsoever.'' formance to Heath, with alternate friends. His parents have established "We know each other so well it's lead Pat Golden performing the role the Jonathon Heath Memorial Schol like family," Dean White explained Heath was to have played. arship Fund through the college's about the R.A.'s. " ...we probably Heath was also an executive board development office, to be restricted know each other better than family.'' member of Student's Against Drunk to the arts. In applying to become an R.A., Heath had to answer a questionnaire asking such questions as why he Jon Heath remembered in services wanted to become an R.A., and how he felt he could contribute to the Funeral services for Jonathan Alan Chairman Tom Rabner was scheduled residence hall program. Heath were held Wednesday, March to speak on behalf of the college's "I love to work with people," he 8, at First United Methodist Church faculty and staff, and students Duane wrote, '' and be the 'counseling' type. in Winter Garden, Fla. A motorcade Powers, Debra Mier, Reid Lashley, If people need help, I want to help ... of cars transporting Heath's friends and Pam Russo, the concert choir, I'm a really good friend to everyone." to the funeral left the college early and a representative from Heath's When asked by the questionnaire Wednesday morning, with a five dormitory hall were to take part in what R.A. program ideas he would county escort arranged by the St. the service. like to see initiated for the coming Johns County Sheriff's Department. According to Dean of Student year, Heath wrote, "Maybe a little The following day (after the Gar Services Darwin White, the students more unity in some of the halls. In goyle' s deadline) a special memorial from lobby west hallway, of which my hall. ..everyone knows everyone. service is scheduled at 4 p.m. at the Heath was resident assistant, plan It makes the student more comfort First United Methodist Church in to purchase a tree to plant on campus able where he or she lives.'' St. Augustine. Drama Department with a plaque in Heath's memory. (Continued on page two) Page Two, The Gargoyle, March 14, 1989 Heath Many offer1ngs in cultural and lecture series (continued from page one) By AMY CASHULETTE This close-knit family environment Staff Writer that Heath recognized and appre ciated can help its members through Last month the cultural and lecture tragedies like the college has experi series· at Flagler College sponsored enced with Heath's death. As one a workshop and poetry reading by student expressed, " Through the Dr. John Fredrick Nims. In addition loss of our dear friend Jon, we've all to being a renowned poet, Nims has realized how precious and important worked as an educator at universities we all are to each other. There's been worldwide and as an editor for vari more hugging and 'I love you's' than ous literary magazines. He has also I can ever remember. It's a shame been the recipient of many presti that we had to lose so much to learn gious awards including a Guggen this." heim Fellowship in 1986. Nims' February 15th visit began Senior class holds with a workshop for student writers. Many students attended and Dr. tennis tournament Constantine Santas, English depart Dr. John Nims (left), shown ment chairman, commented that "he "How Poems Come About" as was very usefui . we all learned with English Department part of the college's cultural Saturday, March 11, Alan Mercer something about writing." Later in Chairman Dr. Constantine and lecture series in the grand and the Senior Class along with the the day Nims spoke on "How Poems Santas, spoke last month on parlor. men's tennis team sponsored a Come About." He read his poems to double-elimination tennis tourna a gathering of students, faculty, and toured throughout Europe. Rosen career since. They have toured the ment dedicated to Jon Heath. area residents in the grand parlor. berg has also published several in United States, Canada, France and Food was donated by · various He proved to be an able poet, as well struction books for recorder students. Italy, playing at folk and ethnic friends and the proceeds will either as witty and informative. The concert here featured Rosen festivals. The Psaltery has recorded be placed into the Jonathan Heath It was an honor and a privilege for berg's musical talent and his exten several albums including their own Memorial Scholarship Fund or will students and faculty alike to meet sive knowledge of the recorder's long compositions, and were guests on go to the Heath family to help defray Nims. In a letter to Dr. Santas, Nims and varied history. The program Garrison Keillor's radio show " A funeral expenses. was apparently equally impressed began with a song on a modern re Prairie Home Companion.'' with the students at the workshop, corder, similar to the type many The tournament began at 1 p.m. The program began with Labbe and Flagler College 'as a whole. school children learn to play. Rosen and was held at the tennis center and Hinkley on accoustical guitar, The cultural and lecture series also berg discussed and performed on and the four main campus courts. singing a folk song-their specialty. recently included recorder player more than 15 of his historic recorders, On several songs Labbe accompanied As the event took place after this Dr. Steve Rosenberg. The New York playing a variety of early music month's Gargoyle deadline,. results with clogging, and with p1aying tli~ native entertained a group of some suited to each instrument's time spoons and bones.