A nonsectarian Service of Remembrance, to be held April 27 at 3:30 p.m. in Sage Chapel, will honor the lives of students, staff and faculty who have died in the past year.
"The Service of Remembrance provides us with an opportunity to come together as Cornellians and honor those within the Big Red family who we have lost," said Ryan Lombardi, vice president for Student and Campus Life. "It further allows us to stand shoulder to shoulder with peers, colleagues and friends, and lean on our community's collective strength."
The service will be hosted by the Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making, in collaboration with numerous campus partners. As part of the ceremony, Shelby Lynn Williams '25, Student Assembly representative, Andrea Haenlin-Mott, chair of the Employee Assembly, and Provost Michael I. Kotlikoff will light candles honoring students, staff and faculty, respectively.
"It's important that we stop and remember those we've lost and reflect upon the impact those individuals had on us," said Christine D. Lovely, vice president and chief human resources officer. "This service is a meaningful way for us to grieve, and celebrate their lives as a community."
In honor of her son James Stewart, who died in December 2019, Kristen Stewart advocated for a service where community members could come together and grieve their collective losses.
In addition to Lombardi and Lovely and Harter, speakers will include Marla Love, the Robert W. and Elizabeth C. Staley Dean of Students, and Joel Harter, associate dean of students and director of the Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making and Cornell United Religious Work. Music will be performed by members of the Savage Club of Ithaca and Anna Steppler, visiting lecturer in the department of music.
The service, which is open to the public, will also be recorded with closed captioning for those unable to attend in person. Learn about the comprehensive resources Cornell provides to its community members.
Stephen D'Angelo is assistant director of communications for Student and Campus Life.
