JOSH RANNEY
News Editor
While faculty, administration and students were enjoying the last few relaxing weeks of summer, tragedy struck the Fredonia family in a way that brought everything back down to Earth.
Jack Corbett, 19, of Orchard Park, N.Y., and a Fredonia student was killed when his car went off the road. According to police reports, the accident took place a little after 2 a.m. on Aug. 7.
Corbett reportedly lost control of his car after hitting a bump on Baker Road in the town of Orchard Park. According to police and accident investigators, after going off the road, the car went through a front yard before finally hitting a tree and bursting into flames.
Corbett was pronounced dead at the scene.
University President Virginia Horvath announced the news in an email statement.
“I offer sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to the Fredonia faculty, staff and students who are grieving.”
Corbett was a 2017 graduate of Orchard Park High School. He enrolled at Fredonia as a chemistry major but withdrew, then re-enrolled as a major in computer and information sciences.
Corbett was also a member of the Fredonia Club Hockey team.
Fredonia Athletic Director, Gerald Fisk said in a statement to The Leader, “Fredonia State Athletics mourns the loss of Jack Corbett. We send our condolences to his family, friends and teammates on the Blue Devil club hockey team.”
Word of the loss spread rapidly over social media and through text messages.
Junior accounting major and Club Hockey general manager, Steven Staversky, said the team was devastated when they heard the news.
“As a hockey team, you spend a lot of time together and develop close bonds,” Staversky said. “Jack was well-liked by everyone and a great teammate.”
Dr. Cedric Howard, Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services stressed the familial bonds
of the Fredonia community.
“Any time we lose a member of the Fredonia family, especially a student member, we are deeply saddened,” Howard said.
“As an administration we were deeply saddened to hear about this and reached out to the family and let them know we’re here to support them. Once
you join the Fredonia family you’re always a part of this family.”
Many of Corbett’s teammates traveled to his wake to pay their respects to his family. His friends said the line of mourners wrapped around the funeral home on Abbott Road.
“It goes to show the impact he had on people. He was someone who went out of his way to make others feel included.”
Staversky and his teammates
remember his playing qualities as the
right guy in the right place at the right time.
“He was a smart player . . . He wasn’t the biggest guy but he understood the game well,” Staversky said.
The team plans to put Corbett’s jersey No. 14 on their helmets this hockey season.
“To honor him, this year we’re [also] having his last name put on his old home jersey and hanging it up behind the bench for every game,” Staversky said.