Fundraiser Underway For Darlington Lake Drowning Victim's Funeral

MAHWAH, NJ — Kevin Acevedo was poised to finish his college career in Florida, where he would join his childhood friends for a final year of school together. But tragedy stopped that from happening.

Acevedo, 21, of Maywood, was identified as one of two men who began struggling in the water after going for a swim in Mahwah's Darlington Lake last week. Both swimmers were retrieved from the lake, but Acevedo was later pronounced dead at Valley Hospital. Read more: Swimmer Drowns At Mahwah's Darlington Lake

"Kevin was in his 3rd year of college at Rutgers University majoring in Finance. His life was cut short in an unexpected accident that has left the family, friends and everyone who knew him devastated," wrote Franklin Medina, who organized a GoFundMe fundraiser for Acevedo's family.

"Kevin was in the process of moving to Florida this summer to join his childhood friends and continue his final year of college at the University of Florida or some other University located in the State. He will no longer see those dreams come to fruition because of an unexplained accident that resulted in the loss of his life."

Acevedo will be remembered ny Medina as a "fun loving, intelligent, hardworking young man, with such a bright future filled with endless aspirations and dreams."

The fundraiser was created to raise funds to help the family pay for unexpected funeral costs, Medina said. So far, 64 people have donated $18,549 of the $20,000 goal.

Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday at Vainieri Funeral Home in North Bergen, New Jersey.

Keep up to date with what's happening in your community by subscribing to your local Patch newsletter here.