Apartment fire victim identified as UMass Amherst senior James Hoffman

A resident of Rolling Green Apartments who died in a Jan. 21 fire has been identified as James "Jake" Hoffman, 21, of Stoughton, a senior studying Hospitality and Tourism Management in the Isenberg School of Management.

 

Hoffman’s name was released Jan. 22 by the state medical examiner.

 

The early morning fire displaced 33 people, including 22 UMass Amherst students. Campus officials worked to find them alternative housing and provide additional support services.

 

In a broadcast e-mail, dean of students Enku Gelaye said, “We extend our sincere condolences to James' family and friends and commit to supporting them through this unimaginable time of grief.”

 

She added, “This is a tragedy with wide-reaching consequences for our community, and we are working with departments across campus to provide direct support and resources to other UMass Amherst students who were displaced by the fire. Those resources include on campus housing, spiritual support services, emergency loans, meal plan options, parking permits and partnerships with faculty and academic departments to assess and mitigate start of semester challenges.”

 

Gelaye urged community members “to help each other by noticing and acknowledging the ongoing mourning and readjustment process that will certainly take place and referring impacted students, staff and faculty” and referred them to campus agencies that provide counseling and other support.

 

Donations for the ongoing relief effort can be made to the American Red Cross, Pioneer Valley Chapter by calling 737-4306, Ext. 1934.