Friends Mourn Sudden Death of Souhegan Alumni

The passing of a student has left a school community mourning the loss of one of their own.

Anthony Barksdale, a Souhegan graduates and freshman at Boston University, died at a hospital in Brighton, MA three hours after being transported from an apartment around 1 a.m. on Saturday.

His death is under investigation, but CBS Boston reports that it may have been due to alcohol.

Barksdale received many athletic and academic honors at Souhegan High School before graduating last year. He played varsity basketball and football during his time at the high school, and earned a scholarship to study engineering at BU. He also became a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity at the university.

Friends expressed their grief on the Boston University Facebook page upon hearing the news of Barksdale’s passing.

Jack Manory: Rest in peace tony. Seeing you every day for the past month or so has been a pleasure. I love you, brother

Courtney Bold: I can't believe I'll never get to see him smile again.

Kendall Marcus: Such an amazing man. Can't believe such a tragedy has struck yet again. RIP. You were one of the nicest people I've ever met<3

A user on NH Sports Forum said that he used to coach Barksdale in youth basketball and baseball in Amherst for many years.

“Tony was a lunchpail type player. By no means a star, but was willing to do the dirty work and an ultimate team player[...] He was the most respectful and polite kid I ever coached in my 15 years of coaching youth sports. He would do anything to garner the satisfaction of his coach, but at the same time was youthful and full of spirit.”

The school released a statement that afternoon on his passing.

“Whenever there is a death of one of our own it affects all of us,” Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore said in the release. “Our entire community is deeply saddened. I hope that students will look out for each other. I hope they will use the resources that are available here, and I hope they reach out to friends, parents, and loved ones.”