Stony Brook University student Andrew Mineo, 21, a psychology major, was found dead in his dorm room on Tuesday evening, according to the university website.
Mineo was a senior who resided in Hendrix College in Roth Quad.
No cause of death has been determined at this time, according to Mineo’s father, Vincent Mineo, 56, of Levittown, N.Y., a computer operations supervisor. An autopsy was performed, but results have not yet been released.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that there is no criminality involved,” the university website said. Suffolk County Police Department and the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating.
“He was not happy recently,” Mineo said. He also said his son was struggling with some of his academics.
Mineo last waved goodbye to his son Tuesday morning as he boarded the train heading back to campus. “I don’t know what happened. In the morning he was fine.”
When his son did not return home Tuesday night for an appointment on Wednesday, Mineo called the university. Detectives alerted him early Wednesday morning about his son’s death.
Andrew was set to graduate with a B.A. in psychology in May and planned to attend C.W. Post in the fall for education. After receiving a Master’s degree, he hoped to become a high school math teacher, his father said.
“I think he was just lost in the shuffle,” said Mineo. According to the university website, there were 23,997 students enrolled for the fall 2008 semester.
“Andy was the type of guy you’d like to be around,” Mineo said.
Over the years, academics was the psychology major’s main focus.
“He was very passionate about the academic world, even if it wasn’t something he liked in the short term,” said Kevin Brady, who graduated with Andrew from Division Avenue High School in Levittown in 2005. “He really did see the point of it all.”
Both were members of Stony Brook College Democrats.
An avid news consumer, Andrew devoured Time, Newsweek and U.S. News ‘ World Report regularly. Mineo also had a passion for helping. Over the years, he volunteered at a local animal rescue organization cleaning cages, became a registered emergency technician at Wantagh-Levittown Volunteer Ambulance Corps., and donated his platelets to Stony Brook University Medical Center, according to his father.
“Our hearts go out to the friends and family of Andrew,” said Dean of Students Jerrold L. Stein.
According to Vincent Mineo, Stein, along with other members of the academic team, have been helpful in trying to provide the family with Mineo’s diploma, which must be approved by State University of New York and campus administrators. “Any death, no matter how terrible, should be a reminder of how fragile life is,” said L. Anne Byrnes, the director of the University Counseling center.
“Members of the campus community who wish to seek support are encouraged to call the University Counseling Center at 632-6720, the Center for Prevention and Outreach at 632-2748, or the Employee Assistance Program at 632-6085. Another resource is Response of Suffolk County at 751-7500, where counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” the campus website said. The center is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the Mineo family is asking for donations to be made to the North Shore Animal League.
Funeral services will be held at Dalton’s Funeral Home in Levittown, Thursday 7 – 9 p.m. and Friday 2 – 5 p.m. and 7 – 9 p.m. A mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Bernard’s Church in Levittown with the burial following at Holy Rood in Westbury.
Bradley Donaldson, Frank Posillico, Joe Trollo and Carolina Hidalgo contributed reporting to this story.