Schools

El Cerrito High Grad Dies at Cal Dorm

El Cerrito High School graduate Henry Treadway died Tuesday night in an apparent jump from his sixth-floor dorm room at UC Berkeley, where he was a sophomore. A vigil is planned Friday night at Sproul Plaza.

Note: More information was added to this article on May 11 at 7 p.m.

A UC Berkeley sophomore who graduated from El Cerrito High in 2010, Henry Treadway, died Tuesday night when he apparently jumped from his sixth-floor dorm room, authorities said.

The death of the 20-year-old student sent shock waves through the high school and the Cal campus. A Facebook page established in his memory has drawn a large outpouring of grief and remembrances. 

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His apparent jump from the Haste Street dorm occurred about 9:45 p.m., said UC police Lt. Eric Tejada. UC police initially withheld his identification, pending notification of family. He was identified later today, Wednesday, by the Alameda County coroner's office.

"Our investigation has ruled it as a probable suicide," Tejada said. "It looked like he jumped from the sixth-floor window of his dorm room." He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Berkeley fire department, Tejada said.

Find out what's happening in El Cerritowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He was the son of Contra Costa Times journalist Chris Treadway, who serves also as editor of the weekly Journal newspaper serving El Cerrito, Kensington and Albany.

The Facebook page announced a candlelight vigil to be held in his memory on Sproul Plaza at 10 p.m. Friday.

"We're really saddened to learn about it today," said El Cerrito High Principal David Luongo. He said the news not only shocked students but also caused "deep sadness for a lot of the staff" who knew him and remember his love of learning and diligence as a student.

He was an Eagle Scout from Troop 14 in Albany. The 2010 El Cerrito High yearbook contains a photo of him in his Scout uniform decorated with numerous achievement badges.

He was an honors student at El Cerrito High and twice won first in the district science fair and once at the Bay Area Science Fair. He also had a perfect attendance record, not missing a day of school from kindergarten through graduation from high school.

The Daily Californian campus paper carried a photo of flowers and a candle left in the courtyard of the Unit 2 Towle Hall dorm courtyard after police left the scene.

A post on the memorial Facebook page from Sophia Lee said, "we were always the last two studying in the Foothill Academic Service Center till closing time at 1AM showing his dedication and hard work... my heart goes out to his family, friends, and loved ones.. may his soul rest in peace."


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