University Of New Haven Student Dies Of Coronavirus

WEST HAVEN, CT — A University of New Haven student died of the coronavirus over the weekend, according to the school. Joshua Goodart, 22, of Oxford, was a cybersecurity and networks major. He was on track to graduate in the spring semester.

He became sick over winter break and was hospitalized at Bridgeport Hospital last month. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to the intensive care unit and put on a ventilator. He died Saturday.

His school adviser, professor Liberty Page, said in a statement he was passionate about his major and a "hardworking, sincerely nice, and happy person."

"He never had a complaint and was nothing but positive," she said. "I am thinking of his smile, how cheerful he was, and how excited he was about his future."

Goodart was a 2017 graduate of Oxford High School. He wanted to remain in Connecticut after graduating from New Haven and work in network administration, she said.

"He was getting ready to go into his career and to do a great job helping to protect the network of a company in our state," she said.

The school will hold a candlelight vigil Friday for Goodart.

A GoFundMe campaign was started for the Goodart family by Edna Darroch.

"On the evening of February 6 ... his parents received a call that no parent ever wants to receive," Darroch wrote on the fundraising page. "They were told that their beautiful son would not make it through the night and should come to the hospital immediately. Josh unfortunately did pass away that night.

"For those who knew Josh, he was a sweet and kind friend to all. It is so devastating to his family and friends to have lost such a dear boy at the young age of 22 years. It really is every parent's worst nightmare."

New Haven will award Goodart's degree posthumously in the spring.