Kirkland Student Dies

John B. Edwards ’10, an aspiring doctor who was training for the 2008 Boston Marathon, was found dead late Thursday evening, 11 days before his 20th birthday.

Friends and family members remember Edwards for his generosity.

“John was just an extremely selfless person who thought of others before himself,” said Audrey S. Mangan ’10, a blockmate of Edwards.

When he decided to run in the marathon, Edwards set two goals for himself. He wanted to raise $2,000 online for charity and he hoped to run the 26.2-mile race in less than four hours.

As of last night, his Harvard College Marathon Challenge Web page displayed about $3,000 in funds raised—all but $750 of them donated since Friday.

Edwards, of Wellesley, Mass., and Kirkland House, was studying to become a doctor and conducted stem cell research at Harvard Medical School. It was in the Medical School’s New Research Building, in a fourth-floor bathroom, that someone found Edwards’ body and called the police around 11 p.m. Thursday night, according to the Boston Police Department (BPD)

The Boston police deemed Edwards’ death a suicide, The Boston Herald reported. A BPD spokesman contacted by The Crimson on Saturday declined to confirm the cause of death, saying the department was waiting for a report from the medical examiner.

Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Harvard University Police Department. Firefighters were called to the scene to investigate the presence of a possibly toxic crystal chemical, according to BPD.

Mangan recalled many late nights spent in Edwards’ room doing chemistry problem sets.

“He always knew what he was doing, and I didn’t,” Mangan said. “But no matter how long it took to explain, he always made sure that I understood things in the end.”

Edwards graduated as class president and valedictorian of Wellesley High School and was an accomplished skier and tennis player, according to a death notice circulated by his father. A self-taught guitarist, Edwards had been learning to play the Led Zeppelin song “Stairway to Heaven,” Mangan said.

In addition to his accomplishments, Edwards’ friends and family evoked his energy and spirit.

“He was just an exceptional person in every way,” his aunt Julie Edwards said. “An excellent musician, a brilliant mind, an incredible brother, and just a heart of gold.”

“John was really generous, and he was very open about anything on his mind,” said his roommate Alex Chang ’10. “He was always there to talk about anything, and he was never afraid to share.”

Classmate and childhood friend Daniel M. Bear ’10 said that he would remember Edwards for his ingenuity.

“The first time we went trick-or-treating without our parents, John had the idea that we could bring several pillowcases with us instead of little bags,” Bear said.

“He was very persistent and we were out there for four hours,” Bear continued. “And I remember being very happy because we each came home with 20 pounds of candy.”

Bear and Edwards went to different high schools. But when the two came to Harvard, Bear said, Edwards was still as spirited as before.

“It was impossible not to look up to him because he had so much energy,” he said. “I was surprised by how little he had changed.”

Edwards was planning to concentrate in molecular and cellular biology, according to biology professor Richard M. Losick, who taught Edwards this semester.

“He was doing well in the class,” said Losick. “I was expecting to get to know him well.”

—Staff writer Nan Ni can be reached at nni@fas.harvard.edu.

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Over 90 percent of those who die by suicide suffer from depression or a substance-abuse disorder, according to statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health. Depressed individuals often experience feelings of pessimism, guilt, anxiety, and fatigue.

Other risk factors for suicide include a family history of mental health problems, feelings of hopelessness, impulsive or aggressive tendencies, and social isolation, according to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention.

Effective treatments for mental health problems are available, but often underused. Individuals concerned about their own mental health or a friend's health can call the 24-hour, confidential National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Harvard affiliates can reach University Health Services during normal business hours at (617) 495-2042 or at (617) 495-5711 during nights and weekends.