A University of Minnesota Student, Mitchell Hoenig, died due to excessive drinking.
Mitchell Hoenig, a 20-year old UMN student, member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and a College of Biological Sciences Dean’s List honoree, lost his life after a night of partying. He was hospitalized Friday, February 23, and unfortunately passed away two days later due to alcohol poisoning. Minnesota Daily reports:
Hoenig attended two Gamma Phi Beta events (Feb. 24) — a pre-party and a date party — the Thursday night before his cardiac arrest, and the Minnesota Daily could not confirm what he did after the two events. He was drinking at the pre-party, one Gamma Phi member said, along with other minors, according to two members and a date party attendee. Hoenig also had access to alcohol at the date party, according to photos and a Gamma Phi member, but it’s unclear if he drank there.
An ambulance called to The Marshall apartment building in Dinkytown, 515 14th Ave. SE, at 5:18 a.m. transported Hoenig to the Hennepin County Medical Center. The Minnesota Daily was unable to confirm Hoenig’s activities between the Greek events and ambulance call.
He was on life support for the next two days and was pronounced dead on Feb. 25 at 12:41 p.m.
The University of Minnesota Police Department and Minneapolis Police Department had no reports on file related to Hoenig’s death. The University is not investigating the incident.
“Our son Mitchell enjoyed life [to] its fullest. Unfortunately, excess alcohol resulted in his death. While this does not in any way define our son, our hope is that this incident reminds everyone to look out for one another,” Hoenig’s parents, Aaron Hoenig and Ann Hoenig, wrote in a February Facebook post sent to the Minnesota Daily by a University spokesperson.
Hoenig’s parents opposed the publication of this story in conversations with the Minnesota Daily.
“Mitchell was a valued member of our community and we join his family in continuing to mourn his loss. It is disappointing that the Minnesota Daily is choosing to publish a story against the wishes of the Hoenig family, who we continue to support and work with as they grieve,” Maggie Towle, the University interim vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, said in an emailed statement through a University spokesperson.
‘An awesome friend’
More than 100 of Hoenig’s friends, family and classmates attended his memorial at Coffman Union on Feb. 28.
Hoenig was described as outgoing, charismatic and funny at the memorial. He quickly made friends inside and outside of his fraternity after moving nearly 1,000 miles from Texas to Minnesota.
“He was an awesome friend, as evidenced by the number of friends showing up here tonight,” Dan Olson, Hoenig’s uncle, said at the memorial. “It’s a real tribute to his friendship knowing that Mitchell lived in Minnesota for less than two and a half years and can fill a room this size, while hundreds more are watching online.”
Hoenig was an organ donor, and at the end of the memorial, his sister read out loud who received his organs. A 67-year-old man received his heart, a 66-year-old man received his lungs, a 63-year-old man received his liver, a 44-year-old man received his pancreas and one of his kidneys and an 11-year-old girl received his other kidney.
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The Fierberg National Law Group and School Violence Law offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mitchell Hoenig.
