Stephanie Parente, '11

The Loyola community is saddened by the loss of Stephanie Parente, ’11, whose death was confirmed to university officials April 21.

A resident of Garden City, N.Y., Parente was pursuing a speech-language pathology major and a minor in natural sciences. At Loyola, Parente participated in Habitat for Humanity, volunteered through the Center for Community Service and Justice, and was involved in the university’s partnership with St. Mary of the Assumption School in Baltimore’s Govans neighborhood. She had also participated on the women’s rowing team, serving most recently as the coxswain for men’s rowing.

“Stephanie was a sweet and kind person and a hard-working student who always had a generous word for her peers. She didn't speak often in class, but her comments were always as thoughtful as her general presence,” said Mark Osteen, Parente’s core advisor who taught her in his Alpha program in Fall 2007. “It's an unfathomable tragedy to have such a young and promising life cut short. All of her Alpha classmates already miss her terribly.”

As head coach of the men’s and women’s rowing teams, Albert Ramirez knew Parente through her involvement in crew. “I knew Steph as a friendly, happy and optimistic young athlete,” he said. “She was a coxswain on our novice team last year and she stayed through the toughest times as the frosh team broke down into just four men.”

Parente had successfully applied to study abroad this fall at Newcastle University in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England.

“I know that if given the opportunity to go to Newcastle, England, I can make Loyola proud,” Parente wrote in her application to study abroad, in which she mentioned an interest in a dentistry career. “I will be able to fulfill the Loyola mission by gaining diversity and bettering the whole person. The knowledge, cultural experience and character this opportunity will provide will allow me to be successful in anything I choose to pursue later on in life.”

Parente, her mother, father and younger sister were found in a Towson hotel room April 20. The police have launched an investigation into the family’s deaths, and are pursuing the investigation as a murder/suicide.

“A tragedy such as this reminds us of the mystery and destructive power of evil in our world. For those of us who are Christian, we are mindful of Christ’s resurrection just celebrated on Easter Sunday, and so rely on God’s bountiful goodness to help us move forward with hope and peace,” said President Rev. Brian Linnane, S.J., who officiated at a Mass in memory of Parente and her family Tuesday, April 21. “I encourage you all to join together as a community in grieving this loss and praying for all those affected by this tragedy.”

Read Fr. Linnane's message to the campus community.