The art community and a Michigan family are mourning after Alejandro Gonzalez, a 20-year-old College for Creative Studies student, met with tragedy off the shores of Cancun, Mexico. Gonzalez, hailed as a promising artist, lost his life after being swept away by a riptide on Sunday, while saving a friend during their swim in the Caribbean Sea. According to Click on Detroit, the search teams recovered his body after an extensive three-day effort.
Gonzalez, known for his art and community work, was vacationing with friends when he heroically saved one from strong currents but was tragically pulled under himself. The College for Creative Studies expressed sorrow over the loss, with the campus in a somber mood and offering support to students and staff. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the family with expenses, raising over $8,000 of the $10,000 goal, as shared by The Detroit News.
Gonzalez, described as friendly and known for his infectious laugh, grew up in Saginaw and graduated from the Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy. He had a deep passion for art, creating murals in Saginaw and exploring fabric art while in college, as reported by People. Recently, he had shown an interest in learning the harp, though he was also skilled with the keyboard and flute. He performed with the worship team at his church in Saginaw.
The Gonzalez family is working to bring Alejandro's remains back to the United States with assistance from the U.S. Consulate in Cancun and support from the community. They have received both emotional and financial help, with a benefit spaghetti dinner planned at Miles Market in the coming week.
