In Memoriam: Kundayi Mazando

It is with deep sadness that we remember Kundayi Mazando, a bright and engaged undergraduate student at University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst), whose life was tragically cut short by leukemia.

🕯 Life & Aspirations

• Kundayi was a double major in Political Science and Economics at UMass Amherst, where she was known for her leadership and drive.

• She ran as a candidate for Student Government Association president, bringing fresh energy and a focus on class-based boards and accountability of campus administration.

• Among her campus involvements: the Mock Trial club, serving as treasurer of the Northeast Housing Council, chess club, and more.

💔 Passing

• The university’s Student Loss & Remembrance page at UMass Amherst confirms Kundayi’s passing date as October 21 2025.

• According to the information you provided, her cause of death was leukemia. (I was unable to locate a publicly published obituary explicitly giving full details of cause and funeral arrangements, though the university page acknowledges her passing.)

🌟 Legacy & Impact

• Kundayi impressed her peers and campus community with her willingness to take initiative, her vision for more equitable structures (for example, class-specific executive boards), and her vocal commitment to addressing issues of racism on campus.

• Even as a freshman, she stepped into major roles — proof of her ambition and readiness to lead. Her sudden passing is a profound loss to her friends, colleagues, and to the UMass Amherst community.

• Beyond her leadership roles, she was appreciated for her warmth, her ability to connect with others (for instance, her dorm-across-the-hall collaboration with a fellow student candidate), and her sense of community.

📝 Notes for Family, Friends & Community

• The university page reminds that the Dean of Students Office will coordinate notifications and support for the campus community. UMass Amherst

• For those wishing to reflect or to honor Kundayi’s memory, consider reaching out to the Student Affairs or Dean of Students office at UMass Amherst for any memorial gatherings, donor initiatives, or tribute opportunities.

• In moments of grief, it can help to remember and share specific stories: her banana-bread baking claim to fame, her packaging of student leadership with community outreach, and her voice for change.

Our sincere condolences to Kundayi’s family, friends, and all who knew her. Her light, while too brief, impacted many and will continue to influence through memories and the work she inspired.