Thousands tune in to watch memorial service

A video recording of Friday’s memorial service for five members of the UWindsor community had been watched about 5,000 times by Monday, reports the Office of Public Affairs and Communications.

Engineering doctoral students Hamidreza Setareh Kokab, Pedram Jadidi, and Zahra Naghibi, her spouse Mohammad Abbaspour Ghadi, and biology research assistant Samira Bashiri were killed in the Jan. 8 crash of Ukrainian International Airlines’ Flight PS752 shortly after take-off from Tehran.

A service Jan. 10 in the student centre drew hundreds of mourning students, faculty, staff, University and local officials, and was webcast live to family, friends, and colleagues worldwide. The event, which included eulogistic remarks by the faculty advisors and friends of the deceased, was recorded and posted on the YouTube streaming service Friday.

“We knew that these individuals were known and loved by many who were unable to attend our memorial,” said John Coleman, director of public affairs. “We hope that viewers are able to take some comfort in knowing that these losses are keenly felt and will not be forgotten.”

Watch the video, just under an hour and a quarter long: