This document provides memorial tributes and remembrances of 32 individuals who lost their lives in the April 16, 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech. The tributes describe the victims as kind, compassionate people who were deeply loved by their families and friends. They highlight each person's positive attributes, character strengths, and the ways they brought joy and made a difference in the lives of others. The document conveys the enduring legacies of each victim and ensures they will never be forgotten.
3. Christopher James Bishop
• Jamie "spoke German like a native,
understood computers inside out,
played drums in a basement band,
bicycled and hiked, followed the
fortunes of the Atlanta Braves as
obsessively as his mother,
grandmothers, and I did, and made
friends everywhere. He was a people
lover from the get-go, and his energy
levels put mine to shame.“
4. Ross A. Alameddine
• “From our first few days
together in class, I
remember thinking, ‘Here’s
a man who’s going to make
his children laugh. Here is a
man who deserves the title
‘beloved.’ Here’s a man
who, just by being himself,
makes you a better
person.’”
5. Brian R. Bluhm
• “First love was for God, and his
relationship with Him was shown
through his kindness, his warm smile,
memorable laugh, and his friendliness
with everyone he met. He loved his
family and his friends.”
• “Brian would want to be remembered
for his love of God, family, and friends,
the Detroit Tigers, and Virginia Tech. He
loved life and lived it to the fullest.”
6. Austin Michelle Cloyd
• “She was not afraid of failing
because she knew that, even in
failure, she would learn from the
experience. And she lived her life
with purpose—she knew what
she wanted to accomplish and
she knew how to get there.”
• “Austin had a brilliant mind, a
compassionate heart, and an iron
will. She was a child who knew
love and knew how to love.”
7. Ryan C. Clark
• Known as “Stack” to his friends
• "He was one of the kindest, most
compassionate people I have ever
known," said Mary Ipser, the camp's
administrator. "He was also one of the
funniest. He knew how to play, and the
staff, parents, campers -- everybody --
adored him. He was the kind of the
person who always kept you up. He'd
put his arm around you and say, 'Come
on, girl, I love you.' I am 71 years old,
the administrator of the camp, and he
didn't treat me any differently than the
18-year-olds.“
8. Daniel Alejandro Perez Cueva
• “He and his sister reminded their
parents that there was always
someone around who cared about
them and what they did and who
wanted to see them happy.”
• “Daniel believed that God put
everyone here to make a difference in
someone’s life. He loved to see his
friends happy, and many of his friends
viewed him as a role model. They said
they were honored to have been able
to call him ‘friend.’”
9. Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
• “Jocelyne possessed the
wonderful gift of bringing joy by
living joy. May that spirit, her
spirit, be lived by those who so
remember her.”
• "It was always about the children
with her"
• "She was full of life”
10. Kevin P. Granata
• “He taught me several important
lessons — science is
fun…creativity in science is
important, people are important,
and family is important.”
• “As a friend, he was caring and
pure of heart. He gave me
guidance about living a simple
life. He was my friend, my
colleague, and my mentor, and
he will be truly missed.”
11. Matthew Gregory Gwaltney
• “He just had a brilliant mind. You
just wouldn’t believe it.”
• “Gwaltney then had asked his coach
to tell the team that he suspended
Gwaltney for ‘talking back.’ You saw
all their shoulders slump. But then I
said, 'I do have one thing that will
help you win this game tonight,’
then we opened the closet door,’
Goss said. Gwaltney popped out,
and his teammates swarmed and
hugged him.”
12. Caitlin Millar Hammaren
• “Her role as a resident advisor in the
Residential Leadership Community was
her passion and she took care of each
of her residents as if they were her own
children. “
• “She had a way of making everyone feel
as if they were her best friend. Her
smile was contagious under any
circumstances.”
• "She's just one of those people who
would do anything for you. She stayed
up until 5 or 6 in the morning when she
had an 8 o'clock class to help you no
matter what.”
13. Jeremy Michael Herbstritt
• “Jeremy was a phenomenal
friend, brother, son and dedicated
teacher. He will forever be loved
and missed by all.”
• “He was just the most outgoing
person. He had lots of friends and
was close with several of the
students he taught.”
14. Rachael Elizabeth Hill
• “Her personal goal was to glorify
God in all she did through her
Lord Jesus Christ.”
• “Her senior yearbook quote from
C.S. Lewis sums up best what her
family feels she would say to all
of them at this time, ‘God, who
foresaw your tribulation, has
specially armed you to go
through it, not without pain but
without stain.’”
15. Emily Jane Hilscher
• “Emily was always wise
beyond her years and
insisted on fairness in
everything. She was
eternally trying to save
someone or something.
She wanted people to be
happy.”
16. Jarrett Lee Lane
• “He was a fun-loving man,
full of spirit. He had a caring
heart and was a friend to
everyone he met.”
• “Jarrett recognized the
importance of being a serious
student but even more so,
the importance of living life
to its fullest.”
17. Matthew Joseph La Porte
• “He was a bright student, and
he consistently scored high
marks on his physical fitness
tests; peers admired his
strength and stamina.”
• If there was any justice in life,
Cadet La Porte would be
given a medal for bravery, as
he acted as any military man
would. He died in uniform.
18. Henry J. Lee
• “He will always be fondly remembered
by his classmates and teachers as the
young man with an open smile and
zany personality.”
• “Henry loved his family and was a good
son,” writes a family friend. One of his
proudest moments was becoming an
American citizen in May 2006. Although
the Ly family will forever miss their
treasured child, they find some comfort
knowing that Henry died a heroic death
while trying to help his teacher block
their classroom door.”
19. Liviu Librescu
• “He loved his position as a
professor. A prolific
researcher and wonderful
teacher, he devoted himself
to the profession, solely for
the love of it.”
• “known as a hero”
20. G.V. Loganathan
• “Professor Loganathan was an
exemplary educator who cared
greatly for his students and their
well-being. He was a kind soul,
pure in heart, who taught us
through his words and actions
how to answer the calling to be a
teacher, a mentor, and a beloved
friend.”
• “the best father a daughter could
hope to have, and a loving
husband”
21. Partahi Mamora Halomoan
Lumbantoruan
• “He was more than a colleague and
friend; he was a man who will
always be admired for his patience,
wisdom, and compassion for
others.”
• “His love, his positive energy, his
sincerity, and his example will help
his family and friends through this
pain. Selflessly, in his final moments
on earth, he sacrificed his own life to
save that of another—a true hero.”
22. Lauren Ashley McCain
• “She had the divine ability to make you
feel like you were her best friend.”
• “Lauren loved God. She had faith that
her savior Jesus Christ had placed her
at Virginia Tech with a mission and a
purpose: to touch those she met with
His love and to glorify Him.”
• “Lauren’s belief in God and Jesus as her
savior is expressed in her own
testimony: “I don’t have to argue
religion, philosophy, or historical
evidence because I KNOW HIM. He is
just as real, if not more so, as my
earthly father.”
23. Daniel Patrick O’Neil
• “Daniel was exceedingly loyal
to his friends and family.”
• “Dan you were an amazing
person. I hope you know how
much you meant to the
people who knew you here.
We are keeping you and your
family and friends in our
prayers. You will never be
forgotten. Love forever.”
24. Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz
• “Juan’s life was characterized
by his love for his family and
his desire to become a better
person each day.”
• “He lived his life with great
intensity, as if each day was
his very last. He changed the
life of everyone he met and
filled it with love and
happiness.”
25. Minal Hiralal Panchal
• “There are some people who
need a year to be noticed, some
who need a big achievement, and
some conquer the world with
power and fame. There are others
who change the world by simply
being themselves, offering peace
and happiness with their smiles—
Minu, you were one of those.”
26. Erin Nicole Peterson
• “Erin’s personality was a wonderful
blend of warmth and magnetism
anchored by a sound moral
compass.”
• “A certified homebody, Erin loved
watching movies and staying in with
her family. She absolutely adored
her maternal great-grandmother.
Erin had a profound respect for her
parents and called them every night.
A faithful and spiritual young
woman, she was a firm believer in
the power of prayer.”
27. Mary Karen Read
• “More than anything, she
relished her role of big sister
to siblings Stephen (11),
Patrick (4), Hannah (4),
Brendan (2), and Colleen (10
months).”
• “Mary was happiest when
helping others, especially
children. She was renowned
for her beautiful, constant
smile and sweet personality.”
28. Michael Steven Pohle, Jr.
• “Mike loved being part of a team, and
there was nothing he would not do for
his teammates or his friends.”
• “That inner desire to learn as much as
he could, be part of a team, and help as
many people as he possibly could are
some of key reasons he chose Virginia
Tech. Whether it was his family, friends,
classmates, teammates, the Phillies, the
Buccaneers, or his beloved Hokies,
Mike was always looking out for them,
as he still is to this day. That is how he
would want to be remembered.”
29. Julia Kathleen Pryde
• Her older sister described her: “She was
a natural at many other things,
including intuitively relating to people
from many walks of life. She was open,
kind, generous, and brave.”
• “She cared and thought about others
much more than she paid attention to
any personal concerns. She wanted to
help change the world and was already
on her way to creating positive changes
for many people. Her giving to her
causes and friends was infinite. In this
world, her special brand of person is in
great demand but, sadly, scarce supply.”
30. Reema Joseph Samaha
• “She maintained lifelong
friendships with a diverse
group of people who were
drawn to her openness,
cheerfulness, creativity, and
wit.”
• “Reema blended her joy of life
with seriousness of mind.”
• “Family came first for Reema.”
31. Waleed Mohamed Shaalan
• “He was known for his broad smile and
the friendly wave with which he
greeted everyone.”
• “Pasha (roommate) was the last person
to have spoken to Shaalan. ‘He was
studying for an exam the morning of
the incident. It was about 4 a.m. when I
last saw and spoke to him. We were
talking about how amazing it would be
when he brought his wife and son to
Tech at the end of the summer. I could
never have imagined that in six hours
he’d be gone forever.’”
32. Leslie Geraldine Sherman
• “Leslie was an inspiration, a young
woman who could literally ‘do it all’ and
excel.”
• “She had immeasurable integrity,
courage, and strength and was a gift to
all who knew her.”
• “She was a student volunteer at a
retirement home, a Special Olympics
coach at West Potomac High School, a
tutor, cherished daughter, devoted
older sister, beloved granddaughter,
admired cousin, loyal friend, and
trusted master of her dog, Winnie.”
33. Maxine Shelly Turner
• “She was brilliant, beautiful, and
extraordinarily talented—although she
would have denied all of the above.”
• “Like anyone else, she had her quirks—
such as her tendency to talk to herself
while playing video games, stick her
tongue out for photographs, and sprawl
on the living room floor in random
positions and sing aloud while doing
homework with her head phones on.
But don’t let her light-hearted outlook
on life mislead you; she was also
incredibly motivated and ambitious.”
34. Nicole Regina White
• “Nicole loved her friends
and her friends loved her.
She was the type of person
who would not judge a
person by his or her
outward appearance but
looked at the person’s
heart. She wanted to know
people as they really were,
not as they appeared.”
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45. Debbie, Look at notes on slides 1 and notes
under this slide for description of event and
what we did/talked about
26 students attended
46. Words they chose to describe
legacies of some of the 32 are
listed under this slide’s notes
Notas del editor
Tell them to think of things they admire about each person Think of a word to describe the legacy they left in one word, phrase, or sentence for each person [I handed out papers and pencils for each of them to do this.] Remind them to keep in mind whenever I say brother, son, sister, etc., and how hard it is for their families (what that entails and who that affects) Transitions were used so I could read the descriptions in notes before the quotes that people said about them showed up but they could put a face still to what I was saying (hit slide show mode to see this)
VT German teacher; beloved husband and son and brotherWas 35 Had an awesome long ponytail that he cut regularly for Locks of Love Devoted fan of Atlanta Braves Known as “Herr Bishop” “Jamie” Bishop Was valedictorian of high school "His wife was everything to him. It was like he had just met her for the first time each day." “He was everybody’s friend. He had a gift for lightening the moment with a wit and wisdom all his own.” A man of keen wit with a contagious enthusiasm for lifeReally into photography 'The Happiest Person You Will Ever Find'
Among the things he was most proud of, his friends say, was his car -- a teal Pontiac Grand Am that he won in a raffle and referred to as the car "I got for a dollar.“Loved to drive downtown in the middle of the night to have profound religious discussions over some pizza Sophomore from Massachusetts; 1 brother Loved computer games, playing piano, and rollerblading between classes “Ross talked in every one of my classes. … He talked about his life, his emotions, his deep insights into the materials.”
Played with kids for a ministry and was a “hero” to them Serving as a TA at the time and grad student in civil engineering Member of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, and the BCM, among other organizations. Was 25 Loved baseball and the Detroit Tigers and was SPORTS CRAZY Normally quiet but when sports came on he’d cheer and be loud
Sophomore in Honors program Had a younger brother Tech’s International Relations Organization, worked four summers with Appalachia Service Project,loved children and was always eager to work with them as a babysitter, a day camp counselor for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a group leader for the Champaign-Urbana Service Project, and a swimming instructor forpre-schoolersat Tech’s McComas Hall. “She wasn’t the president of this or the president of that” “Had a brilliant mind, a compassionate heart, and an iron will” LOVED children and was always eager to work with them as a babysitter “Not a mean bone in that girl’s body” Was 18 Double major
Was a senior at the time, 22 Had a twin brother Triple major (Bio, English, Psychology)with a 4.0 GPA, RA on 4th floor West AJ, and in the Band Active in tons of service organizations, the most passionate he was about was being the musical director at Camp Big Heart (camp for mentally impaired children). Died when he heard the first gunshot in West AJ and rushed to try and helpHis residents loved him“He was such a fun, loving, and delightful person to be around. He cared so much for other people and would befriend anyone.”“always had a smile on his face” A freshman in the band said, “He was the first person to come up and introduce himself to me. He could tell I didn’t known anyone, so he sat next to me the whole meeting and talked to me. It meant so much to me. And he did that for everyone.” Musical director at camp Big Heart for mentally disabled adults and children
Junior, 21 years old, had one sister Left Peru with his mother and sister in 2000 and was trying to “achieve the American dream” Friend said his motivation came from mother; he was doing it for his mother, she worked as a maid and spoke very little English, but came to the US in the hopes that her son would earn a college degree Loved his dog Came from a humble background Went to 2 community colleges for 2 years before transferring to Tech Accomplished swimmer Family said he loved to play around the house imitating superheroes and singing a lot, despite his sister constantly making fun of him for it. Was known as a goofball
Beloved mother of two daughters and a beloved wife Was a teacher beforehand at a school she helped start French teacher that was full of life and loved the French heritage Couture-Nowak had her students barricade the classroom door with a desk and then ushered her students to the back of the class for their safety while she stayed near the desk. Couture-Nowak and 11 of the 22 registered students died.
Professor in Department of Engineering Sciences and Mechanics Three children and wife One of the top five researchers in the nation for his studies of movement dynamics in cerebral palsyCoach of his sons’ lacrosse teams
Grad student and had done undergrad at Tech too so guessing he really loved it here Sports were Matthew’s passion and he was a master of sports statistics and trivia. He was a devoted Hokies fan and enjoyed all ACC sporting events. The Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Bulls led his list of favorite professional teams.Explain the story that the quote was talking about to them. This guy seemed like somethin’ special.
Sophomore Events chair of KKG RA in the RLC An only child, she was her parents pride and joy “Her attitude … was to be a best friend to everybody she met.” Big role model
Master’s student and TA, was 27 Was an avid runner– 5K run for him every year organized by family and friends Oldest of 4 children; older brother; and had a serious girlfriend of 6 months
Freshman Loved to read—especially novels and the BibleAn accomplished classical pianist since age 6 Her senior class of high school was super close and said this about her: “It is difficult to capture the beauty, intelligence, poise, leadership, and other wonderful traits that Rachael possessed.” “One of her beloved scriptures is Song of Solomon 8:5, ‘Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?’ She saw herself as the one coming out of the wilderness and needing to lean on her Savior more and more. Her personal goal was to glorify God in all she did through her Lord Jesus Christ.”
FreshmanBest friend and sister of Erica Equestrian club – known for working hard and long hours there to become an amazing horse back rider.. and was one. Known for her determination and strong work ethic there.
Senior Valedictorian at high school while getting all-district honors in football, track, and basketball Active member of Campus Crusade for Christ Known to go many visits to his family back at home and his church
Sophomore in the Corp of Cadets Member of the Highty-TightiesDied trying to save the lives in the classroom Entire Corp went to his funeral The body position and the wounds of Matt La Porte indicate that he had maneuvered around the room from his desk in the rear right of the classroom and attempted to attack Cho across the front of the classroom. Attired in his uniform, he fell just short of the door, lying next to the blackboard facing where Cho would have been standing while shooting. Matt’s arms were outstretched in a classic football tackling position. He had eight bullet entry wounds – fingers, thumb, arms and shoulders and to the front of his head – that could only have been sustained while moving forward on the shooter in the very position he fell.
9th of 10 children Died helping block the door
Holocaust survivor; was 76 Died blocking the door so his students could escape through the windows; saved all but one student Engineering professorTwo sons and a wife Huge role model
Professor of EngineeringTwo daughters and wife
Was earning his doctorateDied saving a student by lying on top of the student
Hampton, VA Freshman Choctaw Nation Said that Virginia Tech was “almost heaven” She loved those she met with the same love that her God and her hero, Jesus Christ, had shown her and told them about Him. Active in Campus Crusade for Christ, New Life Christian Fellowship, and Bridges International Ministries
Master’s student Daniel’s other interests were running; Red Sox baseball; Hokie football and basketball; backpacking; biking; skateboarding; and traveling, especially in Europe. Played guitar and wrote his own songs
Youngest of three sons and had a wife During his childhood, Juan was known for his energy and happiness. He loved to play, loved being with his family, and improvised special plays each year for his parents’ birthdays. Master’s student His love for God also filled his life. He was involved in several Catholic activities throughout all his school years.
Master’s student Only at tech for a year
Parents called her their angel, their dew drop from Heaven Freshman Had just been elected co-president of EMPOWER, an organization dedicated to building self-esteem and confidence in young minority girls
FreshmanOn campus, she was a member of Campus Crusade for Christ and had applied to be a Bible study leader. She was to have been notified of her acceptance on Monday, April 16. Was considering joining a sorority Was member of Homecoming Court for her high school
Was ridiculed by others during his early school years due to speech development issues but overcame it he was known for reaching out to those who felt they didn’t fit in or felt lost in the crowd… it was his calling Senior and was about to graduate in May
Masters student Had an older sister Volunteered at the Lyric Was an officer of the Blacksburg organization, SEEDS–Seek Education, Explore, DiScover“She cared and thought about others much more than she paid attention to any personal concerns. She wanted to help change the world and was already on her way to creating positive changes for many people. Her giving to her causes and friends was infinite. In this world, her special brand of person is in great demand but, sadly, scarce supply.”
Youngest of three children Lebanese Freshman Was a member of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble, the Hill and Veil Middle Eastern Dance Group, and the Cedars of Lebanon Club.
Student at age 32 Had a wife and son Member of the Blacksburg Muslim community
Junior in Honors Was a devoted older sister Loved photography, visiting historical sites and museums,reading, running, and traveling throughout the United States (Seattle was a favorite) and around the worldPlanned on joining the Peace Corps after graduation Big runner and was looking forward to running more marathons
Senior in Honors Helped found the chapter of AOE here at Tech Had a younger brother named Anthony“Maxine was fiercely independent and from the age of 15 worked to earn her own money. She was determined to help with all of her expenses: living, university, and otherwise.”
Sophomore from Smithfield, VA Had one brother Was an active volunteer at both the local animal shelter and the battered women’s shelter at Tech “Nicole faithfully attended Nansemond River Baptist Church in Suffolk, Va., and worked in the outreach program, taking the message of the Gospel and Christ’s love to people in the local area.”
ECU VT game… first football game of the following year Football teams said a prayer together ESPN quotes saying “you know this is much more than just a football game” and “today, we are all Hokies” Lets Go Hokies cheer again in background
Original memorial
2009 vigil
UVA Betabridge in charlottesville
Ask them to tell me their favorite legacy they wrote down out of all the people and then I will write each one up on the white board Talk about how the contribution of a person will ultimately be summed up in one sentence, word, or phrase. Although we participate in many activities and do tons of stuff, we’ll all be remembered for mainly one thing. Tell them to then write their own. One word, one sentence, or one phrase or attribute you want to be remembered by. Consider: TALENTS, BURDENS, PASSIONS, VALUES, SKILLS YOU’VE ACQUIRED, AND YOUR OPPORTUNITIES. Ask some to share. Then talk about how that’s achieving our desired full potential. And how consistency in one’s actions create that legacy. Hang up that paper somewhere special, keep it to where you can see it every day, and remember how much of an impact each and every one of us has on each other. Live with the 32 as inspirations to do this. PRAY TO GOD BEFORE ALL THIS THAT IT GOES WELL BECAUSE IT CANT WITHOUT HIM.