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U. of Pennsylvania RB commits suicide

Depression-plagued Ambrogi scored 2 TDs two days earlier

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updated 12:04 p.m. ET Oct. 12, 2005

PHILADELPHIA - A senior running back at the University of Pennsylvania who, according to his family, had been battling depression, took his own life Monday.

Kyle Ambrogi, 21, died in his Havertown home. No other details were released.

“I knew my brother had been having some problems (with depression). I thought he was getting better,” his brother, Greg Ambrogi, told the Philadelphia Daily News for a story Wednesday. “I can’t believe it happened. I can’t cry yet.”

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Ambrogi’s death came just two days after he and Greg, a sophomore defensive back at Penn, had career games in a 53-7 win over Bucknell.

Kyle, a backup, carried five times for 18 yards and two third-quarter touchdowns. Greg scored a touchdown after recovering a fumbled second-quarter snap.

“Afterward that’s all everybody was talking about,” Greg Ambrogi said. “How great it was that we, as brothers, got to score in the same game and did so on different sides of the ball. It was awesome.”

Donna Ambrogi, the boys’ mother, said she was proud of Kyle not only for his own accomplishments, but for how he served as a mentor to Greg.

“He was the perfect son,” she said.

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Quakers coach Al Bagnoli, in a statement released by the school’s communications office, called Ambrogi “one of our shining lights.”

“Kyle was a remarkable young man, a true scholar-athlete, an ambassador for Penn, a tremendous teammate and leader on and off the field, as well as a caring and outstanding brother,” Bagnoli said. “His loss will be felt for a long time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this time.”

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