AMHERST — A University of Massachusetts sophomore from Springfield died at an off-campus home in North Amherst Friday evening.

Dillinger Perez, 19, was majoring in history in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and was also an active member of the rugby club sport team, according to an email sent to the campus community Monday by David C. Vaillancourt, the senior associate dean of students.

“We extend our sincere condolences to Dillinger's family and friends,” Vaillancourt wrote, adding that there are numerous support services on campus for students, faculty and staff members affected by the death.

The university posted a memorial page noting that services for Perez would be private “for his family, close friends, teammates and those that knew him.”

Mary Carey, spokeswoman for the Northwestern district attorney's office, said the state police detective unit assigned to the office investigates all unattended deaths in its jurisdiction.

"Foul play is not suspected in this death, so the office wouldn't have further comment," Carey said.

A public post to a Facebook group for those who participated in a National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2012 paid tribute to Perez, who before enrolling at UMass attended both Cathedral High School in Springfield and Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Wilbraham.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
 

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