Nicolas Del Pozo, 21, a senior television, radio and film major in Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, died Sept. 15 as a result of injuries sustained in a fall at Pratt's Falls park in the Town of Pompey.
The Onondaga County Sheriff's Department has classified Del Pozo's death as accidental.
"We are extremely saddened by the tragic news about Nick Del Pozo and want to express our deepest sympathy to his family and friends," says Barry L. Wells, SU senior vice president and dean of student affairs. "Our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time are with all of the people who knew and loved Nick."
Pratt's Falls is part of the Onondaga County Parks system and is located in a rural area in the southeastern part of the county. The park is noted for its woods, its scenic walking trails and a 137-foot waterfall, which pours into a deep gorge.
At about 8:25 p.m., Onondaga County Sheriff's deputies arrived at Pratt's Falls, responding to a request from a County Parks staff member who had noticed a white Jeep (Del Pozo's) in the parking lot. The Pompey Hill Fire Department was called in to assist in a search for the vehicle's driver. At about 10:20 p.m., the searchers found Del Pozo at the bottom of the gorge.
Del Pozo, from Sacramento, Calif., was active in First Year Players, Dance Works and the Windjammer vocal jazz ensemble at SU. He was the DeLuca Charitable Trust Scholar, part of the Our Time Has Come scholarship program.
He is survived by his mother, Lynette Del Pozo; twin brother Nathan Del Pozo; brother Tony Broadfoot; his father, John Vieites; and niece, Abigail Broadfoot, all of Sacramento. Also, grandparents George and Martha Del Pozo of Antioch, Calif., and an aunt, Jillian Del Pozo of Walnut Creek, Calif.
"We deeply regret the loss of Nick Del Pozo," says Newhouse Dean David Rubin. "He was a student with considerable talent as a writer, just on the verge of going out on his own to make his fame and fortune. How unfair it is for such potential never to be realized. All of us at Newhouse, and particularly his teachers and fellow students in our Television-Radio-Film Department, mourn his passing."
Counselors from the SU Counseling Center (443-4715) and Hendricks Chapel (443-2901) are available for those who need assistance.
A Mass was scheduled for Sept. 20 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, followed by burial at East Lawn Cemetery, both located in Sacramento.
An on-campus memorial service at Syracuse University is being scheduled; details will be announced.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to:
The Nicolas Del Pozo Scholarship Fund
Jesuit High School
1200 Jacob Lane
Carmichael, CA 95608
Phone: 916-482-6060
