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Rising Junior Michael Doherty Dies in Massachusetts

Michael Doherty
Michael Doherty, a rising junior in engineering, passed away last week near his home in Franklin, Mass.   

"I am enormously sad to let you know of the death of Duke student Michael Doherty," Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek wrote in an email to students. "Michael loved Duke and he is loved and will be missed by so many on campus."

As Duke students learned about Doherty’s death, tributes came in.  "Mike, no matter the situation, always had the most heartwarming smile on his face. Even being up late doing work, he was positive and happy,” said rising junior Jake Young. “Mike inspired us all to enjoy each moment. Mike was also brilliant. Most importantly though, Mike was an incredible friend. He was encouraging, genuinely loving to everyone, and despite this being a cliche, Mike actually did light up every single room. We all love him so much, and our coming years, not only at Duke, but throughout our life will not be the same missing such an endearing presence. I love and miss Mike more than I knew to be possible. Duke was an exponentially better place with him.”

Duke student Twitter and Instagram accounts also quickly filled up with tributes. The Boston Globe wrote about the student tributes here.

An obituary for Doherty can be found here.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 25, at St. Mary Church, in Franklin, Mass.

In lieu of flowers, Michael's family requests donations to the Michael J. Doherty Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Xaverian Brothers High School, 800 Clapboardtree St., Westwood, MA 02090.