Gillian McComesky, gimccomesky@ursinus.edu
On September 13, 2020, the Ursinus community changed forever when freshman Aidan Inteso passed away unexpectedly. Aidan was an Abele Scholar who had a passion for environmental sciences and playing ice hockey and lacrosse. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, as well as surfing and fishing. Laura Cunningham, Aidan’s Abele Scholar advisor, said, “Aidan stopped by Sturgis to pick up a welcome-back kit from the Abele Scholars. On the first day of classes, he noticed that Google Maps showed a creek (Donny Brook) that ran near our building and asked if he could go in it to fish.” Aidan was full of a sense of adventure and was always looking for new places to explore. Though only at Ursinus for a short time, he had a large impact on the community. His roommate and fellow freshman Jacob Harris said, “Aidan was the best roommate I could have ever wished for. He was so kind and accepting, and I always thought we would become best friends through college. He brought our friend group together and helped me meet new people. We always talked about sports and fishing, and he always mentioned his friends back home. We got so excited for this upcoming football season and dressed up for our fantasy draft. I’m gonna miss playing Smash Bros. and Forza with him. I’m gonna miss going to power yoga classes with him. I’m gonna miss going out on late-night skating adventures around campus. We had thought of so many things to do together. We were looking at these telescopic fishing rods on Amazon that would be perfect to use on the creek and to store in our dorm. Most of all, I’m going to miss his company. I’m sure all of us here at Ursinus feel the same. I may not have known him as long, but in such a short amount of time, I feel we became super close.” Ursinus will be remembering Aidan with two landmarks on campus. One will be a tree that will be planted in his honor. Aidan’s name and hockey sticks will be imprinted on the smokestack near the facilities building, representing his love of learning and sports. There is a website in honor of Aidan’s legacy, now available for those who wish to share their own reflections and memories. In addition to the website, the memorials, the Wellness Center, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, and the college’s Student Affairs staff are available for support and consolation.