When Marsh Chapel dean Robert Hill arrived at the vigil service yesterday night for Stephen Adelipour, a Boston University student who was killed in an Aberdeen Street apartment fire last Saturday, he candidly whispered "wow" as he entered the small lounge.
"I'm so impressed by the gathering tonight, the number," he later told the group.
More than 120 students, faculty and staff gathered last night to pay tribute to Adelipour, a School of Management senior who was killed after a fire ripped through his 21 Aberdeen St. apartment, on the second floor of the Florence & Chafetz Hillel House.
Hillel Rabbi Avi Heller, who helped organize the vigil, asked how many students had attended Adelipour's Monday funeral in Great Neck, N.Y. Most who were present silently raised their hands.
"[The funeral was] one of the saddest things I've seen in my life," Heller said.
Attendees discussed joyful memories of Adelipour, including when Adelipour pretended to have an Irish accent while studying abroad in Sydney, Australia. Adelipour had found a pub of Irish travelers, and invented words to the Irish national anthem with his fake accent.
Another student shared a story of bungee jumping with Adelipour.
"The guy counted down . . . '3, 2, 1' . . . and Stefan just stood there an extra second, popped his collar and then dove down there," the student told the group.
One student recalled Adelipour taking the time to find a can opener in Shelton Hall for a friend who was feeling sick and needed to open her soup can.
Judicial Affairs Director Daryl DeLuca, who was in attendance and also accompanied students to Adelipour's funeral, joked that "you all have immunity tonight" as students related stories, including tales of bars and late-night parties.
Adelipour was "very funny, very smart," said professor Kabrina Chang, who taught Adelipour in his advanced business law course last semester and employment law this semester.
"[He] always participated," she said. "He was engaged and engaging . . . one of those students that you love [to have] in class."
Adelipour was a "good-natured" kid, said professor Samina Karim, who taught Adelipour in strategy and policy this semester. She said though she mispronounced Adelipour's name for a good portion of the semester, he never cared.
He was "curious to learn" and "an active learner," Karim said.
Close friend Ted Saunders, a College of Communication senior, played a video slideshow while people signed a memory book passed around.
While many friends smiled at the images of Adelipour, others began to cry as photos showed him with family or before his high school prom. Many began to sob as the Oasis song "Wonderwall" began to play with the slideshow.
"I'm so overjoyed and impressed by the amount of people who came and showed their friendship for Stefan," said SMG senior Lauren Sanders, who helped coordinate the vigil.
College of Arts and Sciences junior Rhiannon McCuish was also killed in the fire. CAS senior Steven Boursiquot, one of Adelipour's roommates, survived the fire and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is in critical condition, according to hospital officials. He underwent surgery Wednesday to treat severe burns to his back.
Saunders said he thought the vigil would be a "little congregation."
"[But] it's no surprise that so many people showed up," he said. "Stefan had a million friends."
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