Syracuse University student Nicholas Delpozo died Sunday after falling from a cliff in Pratt’s Falls park.

Delpozo, a senior television radio and film major from Sacramento, Calif., entered the park at about 6:30 p.m., said Sgt. John D’Eredita of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. A maintenance worker noticed an unattended locked white Jeep in the parking lot at about 8:30 p.m. and notified the Sheriff’s Office who in turn contacted the Pompey Hill Fire Department to help them search for the owner of the vehicle, he added. About two hours later, Delpozo’s body was discovered at the base of Pratt’s Falls, D’Eredita said.

Pratt’s Falls is more than 100 feet high, but it is unknown from which point Delpozo fell, D’Eredita added. He said that no foul play is suspected and that a full autopsy will be performed by the Onodaga County Medical Examiners Office.

Delpozo was involved with several groups on campus including Danceworks and First Year Players. Most recently he was choreographing scenes for the campus production of the musical Evita. Jordan Bass, who met Delpozo freshman year and worked with him on several projects said that Delpozo’s generosity and passion stood out in the professional environment.

“We weren’t close for a long time but I knew that if I needed anything he would be there,” said Bass, a senior music theater major.

He added that it was Delpozo’s rabid work ethic that brought him close to many on campus.

“Everybody knew him, he was involved with so much,” he added.

Kevin Morrow said that Delpozo’s mother Lynette and twin brother Nathan are on their way to Syracuse where they will meet with university officials to discuss a memorial service. D’Eredita said that Delpozo’s family was notified on Monday in person by a representative of the Medical Examiners Office in Sacramento.

Bass said that the news of Delpozo’s death came as a complete shock to not only him but to his many friends both old and new.

“I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it,” Bass said. “I have talked to people who just met him and they told me that they cannot imagine what people who knew him for so long were going through because they were so affected by it.”

Published on September 16, 2002 at 12:00 pm