Service remembers Alimohamed

and Zena Yoslov Friends, family and members of the University community gathered at a memorial service yesterday afternoon to remember Al-Moez Alimohamed. The fifth-year Mathematics graduate student was murdered in August by four juveniles and one man, currently awaiting trial in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court. Nearly 100 people gathered in Houston Hall's Bodek Lounge to cope with their grief by sharing fond memories of Alimohamed. "It's not a time to cry," Alimohamed's father, Iqbal Alimohamed said. "We are here to honor Moez's memory." The father told the somber audience stories about how his son had been exceptional from infancy to the end of his life. "He probably had the purest heart I could think of," he said. "He was a virtually perfect person." Alimohamed had achieved a great deal before his tragic death, his father added. "The last six months Moez was on top of the world," Iqbal Alimohamed said. "It couldn't have been more perfect." University President Judith Rodin said her office has received many letters describing Alimohamed as a "phenomenal teacher" and a gifted individual. She stressed the need for the University community to support one another after the tragic event. "A family comes together at times of joy and sorrow," Rodin said. "And we are such a family right now. We hope that time as it gently passes will replace the grief." Rodin said the Mathematics Department will be establishing a teaching prize for graduate math students in Alimohamed's name. Graduate Chair of the Mathematics Department Wolfgang Ziller said as a teaching assistant, Alimohamed showed an extraordinary ability to communicate with students. "Teaching was something that was very important to Moez," Ziller said. "He touched his students in special ways." In addition to the teaching award, Ziller said a graduate student math reference library will be set up in Alimohamed's memory. Ziller said Alimohamed will receive his thesis posthumously in December. Alimohamed's research will lead other mathematicians in new directions, he added. Several of Alimohamed's friends and professors related their personal experiences with him. Princeton graduate student Matt Kurtz, who was also Alimohamed's roommate at Reed College, said "Moez and I were very close and I am still reeling from his loss." Yet, he smiled as he related his memories of Alimohamed's complete honesty and ability to communicate with people from all walks of life. Alimohamed's thesis advisor, Andre Scedrov, spoke of Alimohamed's restraint in speaking about his accomplishments. "He knew that he achieved something," Scedrov said. "But he would never boast of it. He would never show off how well things were going." Scedrov urged the audience to "remember the small but precious gifts that we all have from this wonderful person." The memorial service proved to be a chance to do just that for many of Alimohamed's friends. "I think it helped a lot," College and Engineering senior Kara Ko said. "It was nice to hear about all the great times we had with Moez." Even those who did not know Alimohamed were able to appreciate the service. "I feel lucky indirectly to have friends who knew Moez," said College junior Patricia Brown. "He was obviously a really wonderful person," she added. "I really wish I had known him."