The email, sent to Pires’ Economics 445 class Monday afternoon, said Pires died of natural causes.
Tyler Rogers, a junior economics major, was in Pires’ 8 a.m. section of Economics 445 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it. He was so young, and he had just gotten his Ph.D. It seemed like he’d just started living life and started doing what he wanted to do,” Rogers said.
“He was just a very enthusiastic person. He seemed like the person that that wouldn’t happen to. So it’s just breathtaking — you just never see these things coming.”
Rogers said he last saw Pires Thursday.
“Even if there was about six or seven people there out of a class of about 45, he showed up every morning and acted like everyone was there.”
Professor Brian McManus, who teaches other sections of Economics 445, will take over administrative details.
“We in the economics department are in shock from this event, but we are committed to providing you with a final examination comparable to one that Professor Pires would write,” the email from Conway said.
