Recent graduate who died on Thursday identified as Stephanie Pignatiello ’12
By The Dartmouth Staff
Published on Friday, July 27, 2012
Web Update
The recent graduate who died unexpectedly in Hanover on Thursday has been identified as Stephanie Pignatiello ’12, according to a campus-wide email sent by interim President Carol Folt and Dean of the College Charlotte Johnson. Pignatiello died suddenly in her off-campus house. Authorities are not treating her death as suspicious.
Pignatiello majored in linguistics and psychology and minored in Asian and Middle Eastern languages and literature with a focus on Chinese. She was a Neukom Scholar during the 2011-2012 school year and graduated in June.
“There are no words to describe this kind of tragedy,” the message said. “We ask you to please join us in keeping Stephanie's parents, family and friends foremost in your thoughts in the days ahead.”
Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone said that the Hanover Police Department will not release more information about Pignatiello’s death until early next week.
Dartmouth administrators and staff contacted students who were identified as Pignatiello’s close friends in order to offer support on Thursday. The College did not release Pignatiello’s identity until her family had been notified.
The Counseling and Human Development Department will be open 1-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and Johnson and Folt encouraged students to reach out to a counselor or chaplain if they wish to speak to someone.
“On behalf of the entire Dartmouth community, we want to express our heartfelt condolences to Stephanie's family and the many friends who knew and loved her here at Dartmouth,” Folt and Johnson said in the message.
I did not know Stephanie, but I find it disturbing that I found out about her death via the D’s website since Dean Johnson’s e-mail apparently did not go to the recently graduated ‘12s. I hope that no close friends of hers experienced the pain of finding out through the news instead of from the College or in person.
By ‘12 on Jul 27 | 6:37 pm
She was a beautiful person and a close friend. One of those amazing people that you feel lucky to have shared time with. She will be missed tremendously.
By Michelle Barnes on Jul 27 | 6:43 pm
Horrible that this happened.
By ‘14 on Jul 27 | 8:50 pm
I met Stephanie as an undergrad, and while we knew each other only a year, she was one of my closest friends at Dartmouth. She was intelligent, driven, had a great sense of humor, and endless enthusiasm for life. In the wake of such horrible and unexpected news, I find myself reminiscing over the uncountable wonderful memories I have of our friendship—the hiking, the polar bear plunge-ing, late nights hanging out in the chapter room. I’m sure I’m far from the only one with such fond memories of her.
RIP Stephanie—you will be missed, and the world will be a darker place without you.
By Chris Gilsdorf ‘09 on Jul 27 | 10:44 pm
I met Stephanie when she was a first year in Psych 1. She was a bright and engaged student, but my most fond memories are the times over the next four years that she’d swing by my office to say hello. She would always start the same way — “hello professor” with a sweet smile, eyes twinkling. She’d linger in the doorway and we’d chat about classes or psychology or she’d invite me to faculTEA and it was always this lovely break in my day. I feel very fortunate to have shared these moments with her. I will miss her bright spark.
By Prof. Wheatley on Jul 28 | 5:17 pm