The University community mourns the loss of Kerry Grundlingh, a member of the Class of 2027, who died on July 27 in a cycling accident after being struck by a car in her hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa. She was 21.

Grundlingh was an economics major and member of Mathey College at Princeton and a graduate of St. Mary’s School, Waverley.

A highly accomplished athlete, she was a member of the women’s open rowing team at Princeton. She represented South Africa on its national age-group teams several times. 

This past season, Grundlingh was part of the Princeton varsity eight that won the Ivy League Championship before winning the Petite Final at the NCAAs. According to her family, she had planned to compete in the Ironman 70.3 event in the Czech Republic in August.

At Princeton, she also served as a tutor through the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning and was involved in the Personal Librarian Program, which helps students navigate and find resources at Princeton University Library. She was a member of Princeton in Hollywood and Princeton Pictures.

Surviving family members include her parents, Debbie and Francois, and her brother, James.

A memorial service, which will be livestreamed, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, in Johannesburg (5 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time).

The University has extended condolences to the Grundlingh family. In the fall, the University will host an opportunity on campus for students to gather, reflect and support one another.

University resources including Counseling and Psychological Services, the Office of Religious Life, and the residential colleges continue to be available to students while they are away from campus. Students wishing to speak with a counselor can call 609-258-3141. Additional information on resources for students is available on the TigerLife website. Staff may contact Carebridge to speak with a licensed professional by calling 800-437-0911. 

Gifts in Grundlingh’s memory may be made to Princeton University Rowing Association. Visit Princeton Athetics’ online giving page and select “Princeton University Rowing Association.” There is also an option to select “In Memory Of” and include a name in the comments section.