The father of a Saint Joseph’s U. freshman died on May 7 during move-out procedures in McShain Hall.

According to sources close to the situation, Dennis R. Baize had been feeling ill throughout the day. In the process of helping his son Sean Michael Baize move out of the residence hall, he passed out on a bench. Emergency services personnel were called to the scene, and Baize was taken to Lankeneau Hospital, where he died.

A funeral mass was held on May 12 in his home state of Massachusetts.

Cary Anderson, Ed.D., vice president of Student Life, arrived at the scene after Baize collapsed.

“When I arrived at the scene, the emergency medical people were there already, so I called our Counseling Center and campus ministry to send people over to provide support,” Anderson said. “They were there to do that and later there were some students who did meet with members of the counseling staff.”

James Joyce, S.J., assistant to the vice president for Mission and Identity, administered last rites.

Anderson said that the university wants students, faculty, and staff to know that there is counseling support available for any member of the university community who might need it at this time.

“In any of these kinds of cases, we do everything that we can and call in emergency medical personnel and provide support to students,” Anderson said. “Not only the students of the family, but the students who may have been affected who were around the area as well. Our main concern at that moment was that everyone who needed support got that support.”

Any students who are seeking support should contact the university’s Counseling Center, located in A504 Merion Gardens. Individuals can also call the Counseling Center’s office at (610) 660-1090 or visit online.