Omar Osman ’26 died on December 3, 2022, in Brunswick, Maine.

(The following notice was shared by President Rose on November 4, 2022)

To the Bowdoin community,

I write with heartbreaking news. Last night, our student Omar Osman ’26 of Lewiston, Maine, died on the way to the hospital as paramedics and others attempted to assist him. Initial indications point to some kind of medical distress as the cause of death. The College is providing support to Omar’s family, as well as to his roommate and those who were closely connected to him.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to parents of Somali descent, Omar was a first-generation American and first-generation college student. At Bowdoin, he was a Questbridge and Geoffrey Canada Scholar and an active participant in the THRIVE program. A graduate of Lewiston High School (LHS), Omar was a member of the National Honor Society, the student government vice president, and a member of the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council, Model United Nations, and Art Club, among involvement in other activities. He was part of the LHS Equity Resource Team working to increase equity and diversity and was also a mural painter who created and painted murals of all kinds at the school, with the aim of giving LHS its own unique style. Omar loved science and, in just three short months at Bowdoin, he had developed a keen interest in information technology and planned to major in computer science. Of his bigger dreams, he wrote, “I want to be someone anyone and everyone can rely on and can know that I will always be there to help.”

This is a sudden and unimaginable loss for Omar’s parents, his two sisters, and his entire family. Our hearts go out to them, to Omar’s classmates and friends, and to everyone in the Bowdoin community who is feeling his loss.

We will hold space in Main Lounge today, Sunday, December 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) and student affairs staff will be present. CWS will have extended hours for students this week through Thursday (9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). Additionally, students may reach out to My Student Support Program, My SSP, through Lifeworks. Please go to the Telehealth, Online, & Off-Campus Services page on the Bowdoin website for details. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to faculty and staff seeking support.

At this very difficult time, please make sure that you take care of emotional well-being, do not hesitate to reach out for help if you need it and encourage others to do the same, and support others in the best way that you can.

Sincerely,

Clayton

(The following was provided by the Icon Funeral Home on December 5, 2022)

Omar Osman ’26

Omar Osman, a Bowdoin College graduate and a student in the class of 2022, passed away unexpectedly and suddenly this past weekend as a result of an allergic reaction that took place when he was on the Bowdoin College campus. I have to break the news to you that he has passed away, and I do it with a heavy heart.

It is difficult to fathom that Omar is no longer a member of team LRTC 8023, our family in FIRST Robotics, our family in the Lewiston Blue Devils, the greater Lewiston community, or the world as a whole. We are really blessed to have been given the gift of his presence, which we are thankful for. He lived his life according to the tenets of the Islamic religion, and his dedication to helping others was unwavering throughout his entire life.

When it came to the mission and principles that guide FIRST, Omar served as an inspiration to each and every one of us. Some of the things we will miss most about him are his friendliness, intelligence, skill sets (especially his robot driving skills!), organization, and peaceful disposition. We are extremely appreciative that you have made it possible for us to participate in your realm even if we are still physically located on earth. You will be remembered fondly and we will carry the sadness of your passing with us always.

In addition to the many different types of volunteer work that he did for the town, he was a major contributor to the campaign that was made to expand Lewiston High School. In spite of the fact that Omar was only present on our world for a short period of time, he managed to leave behind a considerable legacy… He was a one-of-a-kind person who always had a generous and compassionate attitude toward others.