Sharing News of a Loss in Our Community

Dear Members of the Colgate Community,

It is with profound sadness that I write to share the heartbreaking news that Sohail Nabi, a member of the Class of 2026, has died following a kayaking accident while away from campus with friends.

At moments like this, words feel insufficient. Sohail was a son, a friend, a classmate, and a member of this community. His death comes at a moment when his classmates and their families are preparing to gather for the celebrations of Senior Week and Commencement.

We will gather as a community for a candlelight vigil in Sohail’s memory on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Chapel. I hope all who are able will join us as we remember Sohail, hold his family and friends in our hearts, and offer one another the care and presence that such a loss requires.

We will also acknowledge Sohail’s life at Baccalaureate on Saturday. That service, already a moment of reflection before Commencement, will give us another opportunity to recognize his place in the Class of 2026 and in the life of this University.

In the days ahead, we will need to hold together two truths. We are grieving the loss of a beloved student. And we are also preparing to honor the accomplishments of our seniors, whose years at Colgate should be marked with pride, gratitude, and joy. These are not competing obligations. To honor Sohail’s life is also to honor the class of which he was a part, the friendships he formed here, and the community that now mourns him.

I know that many students, faculty, and staff will be deeply affected by this news. Please take care of one another. Members of the Dean of the College staff, the Counseling Center, the Office of the Chaplains, and other University offices are available to support students and others in the community in the days ahead.

We extend our deepest condolences to Sohail’s family, to his friends, and to all who knew and loved him.

Sincerely,

Brian W. Casey
President