It is with great sadness that I write today to share that the University has lost a member of our community. Zachary Rubin, a Storrs student passed away on February 3, 2026. Zachary was a first-year student from Stirling, New Jersey.
He entered UConn as a Finance major in the School of Business. Last November he auditioned for the School of Fine Arts and added a second degree in Music to his plan of study.
A very talented musician, Zachary played the saxophone. At UConn he was a member of the Varsity/Pep band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Fresh Reeds saxophone quartet. During his high school career, Zachary was a member of the Watchung Regional High School Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pit Orchestra and the Tri-M Music Honors Society. He successfully auditioned to represent his high school at the All-State Band sponsored by the New Jersey Music Educators Association.
Condolences to Zachary’s family can be sent to the Dean of Students Office, 233 Glenbrook Road, Unit-4062, Storrs, Conn., 06269-4062.
Zachary's funeral service will commence this Friday, February 6th at 11:00 a.m. at Menorah Chapels located at 2950 Vauxhall Road, Vauxhall, NJ. To watch the livestreamed funeral service, please click the tan 'Watch Now' tab. A burial service will follow at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin, NJ. For shiva information, please call Menorah Chapels at (908) 964-1500.
This is a challenging time for our community. Please remember that there are resources available for anyone needing support. Reach out to the offices listed below for help navigating this loss in our community.
Student Health & Wellness Mental Health Services (SHaW), located on the 4th floor of Arjona, are available to students who may be seeking additional support. There are several ways students can connect with SHaW:
- To make an appointment with SHaW-Mental Health call 860-486-4700 (press 1 then press 2) or schedule a screening online.
- If you need help more immediately, BeWell can be accessed for free and confidential mental health support 24/7/365 by calling 833-308-3040 (US, Canada & the Caribbean) or 1-984-268-2016 (all other international locations).
- Let’s Talk Mental Health Office Hours is a drop-in service available to students. Visit here for dates, times, and locations: Let's Talk | Student Health and Wellness (uconn.edu). · Information about managing grief is located on the SHaW-Mental Health website · The Growth Through Grief support group is held Monday’s from 4:00-5:00 in Arjona on the 4th floor.
The staff in the Dean of Students in suite 102, Wilbur Cross are available to help students navigate this difficult time. Students can stop by during drop-in hours, no appointment needed at that time or they may call 860-486-3426 to request a meeting with an Assistant Dean.
Students at a regional campus needing support should reach out to SHaW or the Student Services staff on their home campus.
Staff and faculty, including Graduate Assistants are encouraged to reach out to UConn’s Employee Assistance Program if they are in need of support.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to Zachary’s family and friends during this time.
Take care of yourself, check on your friends and reach out for help if needed.
Sincerely,
Fany DeJesús Hannon, Ed.D
Dean of Students
For more information, contact: Dean of Students at 860-486-3426