Passages: Lia Smith, Former Middlebury College Diver, 21
Lia Smith, a former diver at Middlebury College, died last week. She was 21 years old.
Smith had competed in previous seasons as a diver for the Division III school, though she wasn’t actively listed on the team’s roster. She was last seen on Oct. 17, was reported missing on Oct. 19, and her body was found after an extensive law enforcement search near campus last Thursday. An identification by police was made on Friday.
Smith was a member of the Class of 2026. She was a native of Woodside, California, double majoring in computer science and statistics. She was a member of the chess club, Japanese club and Women in Computer Science as well as an advocate for transgender rights.
“Over the past few days, I have learned what a remarkable person Lia was…” college president Ian Baucom wrote in an email to the campus community on Saturday, while thanking college staff for their efforts in the search with Vermont State Police. “She was a gift to us and we are so grateful that she was – and will always remain – a member of our Middlebury family.”
“I have spoken with Lia’s family to express my heartbreak. As president, and far more as a fellow parent, I ache for them. This is a profound loss that nobody should have to endure.”
