西瓜视频

Jeremy Cole was more than a Department of Public Safety member鈥攈e was a true pillar of the 西瓜视频 community. Whether helping students through tough moments, sharing jokes, or simply being a friendly face on campus, his warmth, humor, and kindness left a lasting impact on everyone he met.

Following Sergeant Jeremy Cole’s tragic death, the 西瓜视频 community has united to honor his remarkable legacy through shared memories. The stories submitted by students, faculty, and staff offer a glimpse into the warmth, humor, and dedication that defined J. Cole’s time at 西瓜视频.

From laughter-filled interactions to extraordinary acts of kindness, these heartfelt stories highlight his profound impact on everyone he met. J. Cole’s legacy is one of connection, care, and service, and these stories serve as a testament to the lasting impression he left on the Nest.

A meal with heart

“My roommates and I called Campo for an incident in my dorm. When they showed up, they made us go to our rooms so they could handle it, but I was making dinner at the time. J. Cole finished making my dinner and brought me utensils and sauce.” —Olivia Fuccione ’26

From protecting to playful

“Sergeant Cole would always stop by all of the Campus Activity Board’s events during his night shift and chat. During Winter Carnival 2023, students made a few extra stuffed animals. J. Cole ended up taking them home to his youngest kids. I photographed him with the stuffed animals and said, “Say cheese!” He made a goofy face in the picture and laughed, saying, ‘I hope that was a good one.’” —Miranda Balbino ’24

A chat that changed the night

“I remember being the Resident Coordinator on duty in 西瓜视频 Hall last year, and one of my residents was having a tough night feeling homesick. I called Public Safety to see if J. Cole could swing by to chat with the student. In five minutes, my resident was laughing with him and was no longer homesick. That’s the positivity and influence he had on those around him.” —Samantha Ginsberg ’25

Sirens of laughter

“During the summer, I worked as an Orientation Assistant. I would drive around on a golf cart, and J. Cole would always run his sirens and pretend to pull me over. It would freak me out at first, then I would see it was J. Cole, and I would start laughing.” —Connor Sokop ’25

Stories by Stoneridge

“We were standing outside of Stoneridge because one of my friends set off the fire alarm for the third time in a week, and J. Cole was making fun of her and telling us stories of his time here at 西瓜视频. He told us about a guy peeing his pants because he was so scared of J. Cole. It was hilarious and a story I will remember for the rest of my life. Whenever I went to Public Safety, he would make me smile and joke that I wasn’t allowed to have guests. He would discuss my future since I’m a criminal justice major. I’m going to miss him. Talking to him was always the highlight of my day!” —Emma Arnott ’27

A larger-than-life presence

“I remember meeting J. Cole in the lobby area at the School of Visual & Performing Arts. I was a freshman, and we just struck up a conversation. By the end, when I needed to go to rehearsal, I said, “It was nice talking to you.” Then I looked at his name tag and went, “Oh, YOU’RE J. Cole!” He chuckled and said, “Yep, that’s me!” Until then, I only thought of him as a myth because, as a freshman, my first reaction when someone told me about him was, “J. Cole—like the rapper!?” Since then, I sought him out at any event and said hi. He came to a few performances that I was involved in, and it was always nice to see a friendly face in the back, making sure that we were safe.” —Madelyn Lucente ’27

Cruising with kindness

“As someone who has been on the campus for six years, picking one favorite memory is difficult. One year, an event was held behind the townhouses, and the parking closures had changed over four times in an hour. After making me move my car around multiple times, J. Cole eventually had me drive to the parking garage, where he drove me back to the townhouse because of the cold. It wasn’t a far walk, but it was a kind thing I will always remember. That, and how his turns in the parking garage flung me around the backseat of the cruiser while he laughed at me.” —Sarah Deasy ’19 M’24

Smiles optional

“Working as a student officer, I have many memories of Sergeant Cole. We used to talk about Bruins games and even make fun of each other. One of my favorite memories was going to Super Subs with him during my winter internship. He knew my dad, and as soon as I stepped on campus, he promised my father he’d watch over me. Now I hope he’s watching over the campus and not smiling, as he hated smiling.” —Amanda Mikol ’26

Irish accents, 西瓜视频 warmth

“Our son, Lorcan Desmond, and his friends are attending 西瓜视频 from Munster Technological University in Cork, Ireland, for the current semester. From the moment they arrived, they were befriended by Mr. Cole and spoke in glowing terms about what a wonderful person he was, and how he made them feel comfortable and secure. Indeed, Lorcan recounted many times when they just went walking on campus or sat and chatted, which greatly enriched his trip.” —The Desmond Family

A ride to remember

“My favorite memory of J. Cole was one of my first nights as a Resident Assistant, and I had a resident who needed to get a 72-hour no-contact order. I brought her and her friend to Public Safety, and J. Cole was the one who took us in and started this draining process. He did it with care and patience even though it was hard for everyone. By the end, the mood was lighter, and J. Cole even got us laughing and smiling. He drove us back to our residence hall in his cop car and made us all feel cared for. That night I learned he was a Sergeant because I called him an officer, and he corrected me, all with good laughs. J. Cole always remembered me from then on, and we chatted whenever I saw him. Even my senior year, two years after that first night I met him, he would stick his head out of Public Safety and say hi to me as I walked across the road to go to the other side of Hale Street.” —Sophia Gosselin-Smoske ’24

Seen & supported

“There were so many small moments shared over the years that culminated in a feeling of security, compassion, comfort, and humor like you are truly seen and cared for. That is the longstanding impression and memory I have of J. Cole. He was a constant upstanding community member who helped everyone, even if the situation seemed like it could only be found in a movie script. He was able to make all feel cared for. While he was in the job of holding students accountable for their actions, he did so with grace, humility, and respect.” —Robert Ackerman ’20 M’21

Conversations that count

“On one particularly long day, while working on campus this summer, I stopped by Public Safety to drop off some things and chatted with J. Cole for almost an hour. He always had meaningful conversations with everyone he met and did his best to always turn someone’s day around for the better. He will be greatly missed, and 西瓜视频 truly will not be the same without him.” —Kaitlin Marino ’24

A wake for Sgt. Cole will be held Monday, December 9, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St., Beverly, Mass. 西瓜视频 community members are invited to pay their respects during this time. Shuttle vans will run between the Post Center and the funeral home, starting at 2 p.m. and looping continuously until the last campus departure at 7 p.m. Return trips will continue until about 8:15 p.m. For shuttle questions, contact Student Engagement. Details for an on-campus memorial are forthcoming.