Campus Community
Posted: Thursday, April 23, 2009‘Celebration of Life’ Pays Tribute to the Buffalo State Community
By Tony Astran
Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and families are invited to attend the eighth annual “Celebration of Life” ceremony tomorrow from noon until 1:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Assembly Hall. Thirty-seven people from the Buffalo State community who died during the past year will be remembered.
The nondenominational event includes music from the Buffalo State Chamber Choir, a message from President Howard, readings, the lighting of memorial candles, and a post-event reception. Faith Hoffman, a senior social work major, will serve as master of ceremonies. Alumni from the women’s hockey team will present the memorial wreath in honor of teammate Madeline “Maddy” Loftus, one of the victims of the Flight 3407 tragedy in February. Others killed in the crash, students, faculty, and staff members will be remembered as well.
As the full list of the deceased is read, a memorial bell will ring once after each name. There will also be a moment during the ceremony to privately acknowledge other loved ones, who can be honored through a memory book-signing as well.
Modupe Akin-Deko, associate director and clinical coordinator, and Ronald George, senior counselor,Counseling Center, are two of the celebration’s organizers. Akin-Deko said the event is designed to focus on the Buffalo State community and show that everyone is cared for.
“We want to acknowledge grieving,” she said. “It’s part of life.”
“The Celebration of Life is a time for healing, remembering, and coming together as a community,” George added. “We mourn together, but celebrate together.”
Akin-Deko is a co-coordinator of the Critical Incident Support Team. She encourages more faculty, staff, and students to get involved with the volunteer group and become first-responders to “moments of grief” on campus. She also invites the community to help participate with next year’s event by suggesting readings or volunteering to read.
This year’s Celebration of Life ceremony is sponsored by the Academic and Student Affairs Office, the Dean of Students Office, the Residence Life Office, and the Vice President for Finance and Management’s Office.
