Day Of Mourning For Virginia Tech Victims

Hokie Hope  - Day.Day of Mourning For Virginia Tech Victims

April 20, 2007

We will never forget... This is Hokie Hope Day

Jamie Bishop, an instructor in Foreign Languages and Literatures (German).

Ryan Clark, 22, a student from Martinez, Ga., was a fifth-year student working toward a triple-degree in psychology, biology and English and carried a 4.0 grade-point average. He was a member of the Marching Virginians band. He was a resident assistant at Ambler Johnson Hall, the dorm where the first shootings took place.

Prof. Kevin Granata, age unknown, researched muscle and reflex response and robotics. Ishwar K. Puri, head of the engineering science and mechanics department, called Granata one of the top five biomechanics researchers in the country working on movement dynamics in cerebral palsy.

Caitlin Hammaren, 19, of Westtown, N.Y., a sophomore majoring in international studies and French, according to Minisink Valley, N.Y., school officials who spoke with Hammaren's family.

Emily Jane Hilscher, a 19-year-old freshman from Woodville and an animal and poultry sciences major, was known in rural Rappahannock County as an animal lover. County Administrator John McCarthy, a family friend, said she worked at a veterinarian's office "and cared about them her whole life."

Jarrett Lane, senior, of Narrows, Va., a civil engineering major, liked Christian Alternative music, "The Simpsons" and "ESPN Sportscenter."

Matt La Porte, a freshman, of Dumont, N.J., was majoring in political science and leadership, and aspired to an Air Force commission

Henry Lee, freshman, of Roanoke, Va., a computer engineering and French major, enjoyed racquetball, engineering and Frisbee. "I'm just your typical short Asian (Chinese) guy," he wrote.

Prof. Liviu Librescu, 76, an Israeli born in Romania, was known internationally for his research in aeronautical engineering.

Prof. G.V. Loganathan, 51, an Indian-born civil and environmental engineering professor, had been a professor at Virginia Tech since 1982. "For us it was like an electric shock. We've totally collapsed today," his brother G.V. Palanivel said from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. "Our parents are elderly and have broken down completely."

Juan Ortiz, a 26-year-old graduate student in civil engineering from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, according to his wife, Liselle Vega Cortes.

Mary Karen Read was born in South Korea into an Air Force family
and lived in Texas and California before settling in Annandale, Va. Her aunt, Karen Kuppinger in Rochester, N.Y., said her 19-year-old niece had struggled adjusting to Tech's sprawling campus, but had recently begun making friends and looking into a sorority. "I think she wanted to try to spread her wings," she said.

Reema Samaha, freshman, of Centreville, Va., liked dancing and was a fan of ballet and belly dancing.

Leslie Sherman, sophomore, a history and international studies major.

Maxine Turner, a senior from Vienna, Va., was a chemical engineering major. Among her interests were Tae Kwon Do, Shakespeare and Red Hot Chili Peppers, and she was a member of Alpha Omega Epsilon.

Comments

[Tim Himes]

As a father of three grown children I can't imagine the scope of the sorrows of the families, friends or the VT Hokie nation in general. I can only voice that you are not alone and collectively the entire US nation mourns with you. Many have said that the victims were at the wrong place at the wrong time. And I would say they were doing exactly what they supposed to do. An interloper interupted their peaceful lives. I feel for you and I pray for God to give you some sollice in your indescribable time of need. There is no rationle answer to this, we must come together and help each other as we can.

A friend in Texas.