{shortcode-104de446ef04682a3668dfae9bcd7d1ecd472ef4}

At the end of January, Stephen C. Rose ’06 shared an Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. quote on his newly-created Tumblr page: “The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” And according to his younger brother, Evan M. Rose ’09, that quote is symbolic of his late brother’s character.

“This [quote] perfectly encapsulates how he was approaching his life and what he wished for others,” Evan Rose wrote in a blog post on his own Tumblr page. “Stephen sought to connect deeply with the ideas he engaged with as well as the people he met.”

Stephen Rose, who studied sociology as an undergraduate, jumped to his death from the top of William James Hall on Feb. 6. He was 29.

Those who knew him describe Rose as a caring friend with a sunny personality and a deep interest in philosophical issues and say that they hope his death will spark a discussion about mental health.

“Steve’s legacy is one of love for his family and friends, kindness to all, deep thought and desire to connect with others despite the obstacles mental illness presented in his life,” Evan Rose wrote in the blog post. Several members of the Roses’ family declined to comment further for this story, offering the post as the family’s statement.

Ayodeji B. Ogunnaike ’10, whose older brother was close with Rose, described him as “one of the most pleasant people” at Harvard and someone who was “always pretty willing to talk to anyone about anything.” Even though he knew him primarily through his brother, Ogunnaike said Rose made a point to stop and ask how he was when they ran into each other.

“You didn’t have to know him really well for him to take an interest in you and care about you,” Ogunnaike said.