Dear LMU Community:
I am heartbroken to share that Spencer Collins-Williams, a first-year economics major in the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, tragically died in a drowning incident on Nov. 28, 2025, in Laguna Beach, California. He was 19 years old.
Spencer, from Irvine, California, was a bright, vibrant, and athletic student. He was a standout left-handed pitcher at Northwood High School, where his dedication and baseball talent were widely admired.
A resident of Rosecrans, Spencer expressed great enthusiasm for his LMU journey. He described his passion as lying at the intersection of commerce, sports, and community engagement.
Student Psychological Services, Community of Care, Campus Ministry, and the Dean of Students are available to speak with students who seek support during this difficult time. Student Psychological Services also offers TimelyCare, a teletherapy service with licensed providers to support mental health. Faculty and staff may seek support from the Employee Assistance Programand the Center for Ignatian Spirituality.
We will remember Spencer with a plaque bearing his name at our student memorial, Ad Astra per Aspera. Memorial services are pending and will be announced.
In lieu of flowers, Spencer’s family asks that donations in his memory be made to support epilepsy research at Hoag Hospital.
Please keep Spencer, his father, Matthew, his mother, Caroline, his sister, Charlotte, and his friends and classmates in your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Thomas Poon, Ph.D.
President and Professor of Chemistry