HPA Grad Confirmed Dead After Florida Condo Collapse

A Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy graduate reported missing after a South Florida condo collapsed last month has now been confirmed deceased.

The University of Chicago released a statement Friday, July 9, regarding the death of Ilan Naibryf, who was a fourth-year student at the institution.

“The University is profoundly saddened to lose this member of our community,” the statement reads. “We send our heartfelt condolences to Ilan’s family, friends, and the many who watched news reports that he was missing. We all had hoped that Ilan would be found safe. The news of his passing is incredibly painful.”

Naibryf, who boarded at HPA from 2016-18, was reported missing after a large section of the 12-story building in Surfside, a community in the Miami Beach area, crumbled at approximately 1:30 a.m. Eastern time Thursday, June 24.

In the statement from the university, they described Naibryf as a rising star who was a scholar, entrepreneur and admired campus leader. The second person in his family to attend college, the 22-year-old was a physics major with a minor in molecular engineering and was active within the campus community.

“He also was co-founder and CEO of STIX Financial, a 2021 College New Venture Challenge finalist, served as president of the Chabad House student board, was a former member of the men’s track and field team, and was active in recreational soccer,” the release states.

The university noted that Naibryf was a valued student and friend, and the news of his death closely follows the passing of another College student on July 4.

He will be greatly missed,” the statement reads. “We recognize the grief Ilan’s passing brings to our community.”