Tufts lost another member of its community Dec. 30, 2006. According to the Metro West Daily News, 31-year-old Edilene Evangelista died when her Jeep Grand Cherokee slid off an icy road and landed on its roof. The accident occurred at 27 Carter Road, only about a half mile away from her home.
She had just completed her first semester at Tufts School of Dental Medicine.
Evangelista, a native of Brazil, originally planned to practice dentistry in her home country, but decided to become a dentist in America obtaining her U.S. citizenship last year.
Mark Gonthier, the school's Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, told the Metro West Daily News that Evangelista "was in the advanced standing program with 14 other internationally educated dentists who were working toward their American Doctor of Dental Medicine degree."
She also worked as a dental assistant at Tufts and traveled to Ecuador with 11 other members of the Tufts community in August of 2005 to provide dental care to the poor.
Evangelista is survived by her husband of ten years, Sirlei, whom she met in Brazil, and her three-year-old daughter Sarah Rose.
About 400 people, including a busload people from Tufts, attended calling hours on Jan. 3. Graveside services followed the next day, with about 100 grieving family members and friends present.
"She died young but she got everything that she desired," Natalia Evangelista, one of Sirlei Evangelista's relatives, told the Metro West Daily News. "She accomplished a lot in the short time she had to enjoy life here on earth. She was amazing, always happy, always pleasant."
"While Edilene's tenure at Tufts was only eight months, she made a lasting impression on her peers and the faculty," she said. "Her laughter was infectious, and her sincere focus on achieving the American Dream was inspiring to others."
Although police could not confirm Evangelista's cause of death, Framingham Police Lt. Paul Shastany told the Metro West Daily News that they suspect death from injuries caused by the accident.
According to Shastany, no other cars were involved in the accident. It appeared that Evangelista was not wearing her seatbelt and that the airbag did not deploy.
-Sarah Butrymowicz
