A memorial service will be held today on Southwestern University campus at 2 p.m, today, December 6 in the Howry center.
As noted below, a formal service will be held in January at SU.
We will continue to update this post as more information becomes available.** First update below: 12/08/08.
AEKDB.
Friday, December 05, 2008 7:57 PM
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Dear Members of the Southwestern Community,
Many of you have asked how you can show support for Rob Atkinson’s family. We have spoken with his parents, John and Janice, today, and they have asked that expressions of sympathy be sent to them at johnandjan (at) afdop (dot) org.
The Atkinsons plan to have a memorial service for Rob in San Diego no earlier than Dec. 13-14. As mentioned earlier, we will have a memorial service for him on campus after the holiday break.
Donations in memory of Rob may be sent to the Peace Alliance, P.O. Box 70095, Rochester Hills,MI 48307. Be sure to specify that the donations benefit the Student Peace Alliance.
Jake B. Schrum
President——————-
Fri 12/5/2008
Dear Members of the Southwestern Community,
I was deeply touched this afternoon as we heard students, faculty members and staff share the impact that Rob Atkinson had on their lives.
This message is to update you on our plans as we continue to help the campus community cope with Rob’s tragic death. Those who were at the gathering this afternoon heard that his fraternity, Kappa Sigma, plans an event to remember Rob at their house at 7:30 tonight. We will hold another campus-wide gathering tomorrow (Saturday) at 2 p.m. in the Howry Center.Â
A formal memorial service for Rob will be held after the holiday break, and we will let you know as soon as the date for that service is set. We are still waiting to hear what arrangements Rob’s family is making for a service in his hometown. We do know they plan to come to campus for the memorial service in January.Â
The chapel will be open all weekend for those who would like to use it. Please remember that counselors are available during working hours at the Robertson Center, and after hours by calling the SU Police at 512-863-1944. Counselors are happy to come meet with any individual groups on campus who have been touched by Rob’s loss.Â
As you may have learned today, Rob’s death is really a double tragedy for our campus because the car that hit him was driven by a fellow Southwestern student. We ask that you keep [this student], his family members, and his Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers in your thoughts and prayers as well.
Jake B. Schrum
President——————-
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I m french, and i met Rob last summer, in south dakota, on rosebud indian reservation, at the lakota sundance.
I appreciated this young man. He showed a great respect to every one. We smoked the sacred tchanupa together, and i noticed the great care he had while preparing the pipe. He appeared to me like a person very involved in helping people, as well.
He’ll be one of the persons I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
I’m so sad.
Mon épouse et moi-même sommes très tristes de cette terrible nouvelle. Ce jeune homme avait quelquechose en lui qui laissait supposer que sa vie serait riche et bien remplie au service des autres. Hélas ! ….Nous nous sommes croisés seulement quelques jours, mais ce fut une rencontre qui compte.
Michel Massias