Bentley University student who died in the Bahamas was ‘the perfect son,' family says
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He was the only child of Sneh and
Guarav's death has stunned his friends, fellow students, and faculty at Bentley, a private university in Waltham.
'We share our deepest condolences with Gaurav's family, friends, and loved ones,' the university said in a statement Monday. 'We will share more information when available while respecting his family's privacy. This is an enormous tragedy for our community.'
Jaisingh, fell from an upper-level balcony on Sunday night at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort. He was found unresponsive on a lower floor of his hotel the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a
He was taken to a hospital but died from his injuries en route, officials said.
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An investigation conducted by authorities in the Bahamas determined the fall was accidental, Bentley University public relations director Helen Henrichs said Tuesday. The trip, called
Sneh and
Madan, who knew Jaisingh since he was a boy, said he was charismatic, loved, and admired by his extended family, especially his younger cousins.
'This kid would come, make an effort, come talk to every single adult,' she said, describing some of her favorite memories of Jaisingh at family gatherings.
Jaisingh was set to graduate with a degree in finance and move to New York City to work at a financial firm, Madan said.
'Anybody who knows Gaurav loved him, and knew he was the boy with the biggest smile and the biggest hug,' she said. 'He was a good kid, he was the perfect son.'
Madan said she met the Jaisinghs through the Boston area's Indian immigrant community — a group of people who feel like family despite having no blood relation, she said.
'What forms our foundation is the friendships we make,' said Madan.
Sneh Jaisingh, 50, and his father raised him to take advantage of and appreciate 'both worlds' he came from, Madan said. At Bentley, Jaisingh was active in South Asian and Asian student groups and served younger students as an orientation leader, according to his social media profiles.
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'We really try to give our kids the best of both worlds, and he was a great example of that,' Madan said. 'I know he would have continued to do that in the next chapter of his life.'
The senior class trip to the Bahamas is held each year in May between finals and commencement,
The trip includes a four-night stay at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort, according to the university's website.
Madan said the family is going through an indescribable loss.
'They would like to tell people to honor and respect their privacy, and send the family a lot of love and strength, and pray for Gaurav's soul to be at peace,' Madan said.
Claire Thornton can be reached at
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