Aidan Kaminska, UMass lacrosse player from Port Jefferson, dies at 19
Aidan Kaminska played lacrosse at UMass and was a star at Port Jefferson High School. Credit: Thom Kendall for UMass Athletics/Thomas Kendall
Aidan Kaminska, a sophomore lacrosse player at the University of Massachusetts, died at his family home in Port Jefferson on Monday, according to UMass officials.
Kaminska was a football and lacrosse star at Port Jefferson High School, where he set the Long Island record for receptions in a high school football game with 17. He was 19.
Port Jefferson superintendent Jessica Schmettan sent a letter to school district parents and staff on Tuesday that read, in part: “The District was informed of the sudden passing of one of our alumni from the Class of 2020, Aidan Kaminska. Our thoughts and prayers are with the former student’s friends, family and loved ones during this difficult time . . . I offer my deepest and most sincere condolences to the family, staff and friends who suffered this great loss.”
His cause of death was not disclosed.
Kaminska did not play his first season for the Minutemen and was redshirted, but was recognized by the Colonial Athletic Association for academic excellence. This past season, he was named to the CAA’s All-Rookie team after scoring nine goals in six games. He scored three times in a 13-9 road victory at Hofstra on April 23.
In high school, Kaminska played wide receiver and safety in football for the Royals. His Long Island record 17-catch game came in 2019 against Mount Sinai. The record was later tied by another Port Jefferson wide receiver, Stephen Bayer, in 2021 against East Hampton/Pierson.
Kaminska was a midfielder in boys lacrosse and had 47 goals and 29 assists during his junior season with Port Jefferson. His senior season was canceled because of the pandemic.
“He was everything you want in a player,” Royals boys lacrosse coach Taylor Forstell said. "He was a world-class athlete who always put in the extra work to stay a step ahead and a very cerebral player . . . who could pick apart a defense.”
Schmettan said the school district was enacting its emergency crisis plan and would have principals, guidance counselors, social workers and psychologists on call to assist students, parents and staff who may need those services.
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
