Liviu Librescu

[brooksmoses]

1922(?)-2007



I didn't know him very well, and he was a hard professor (and I worked hard to earn the grade I got in his class), but I did know him a little bit. He was my Dynamics professor. He was born in Romania, got his Ph.D. there in fluid mechanics in 1969, moved to Israel in 1976, and then came to Virginia Tech on sabbatical in 1986 and decided to stay. At 9:30 in Norris hall, yesterday, he was teaching ESM 3154, Solid Mechanics.

They say, when the shooting started, he held the door closed so his students could escape out the windows.

They say, when that finally didn't work, he threw himself in front of the gunman to stop him.

They say nearly all of his students survived.

Comments

well that made me cry

[lcohen]

thanks for sharing it wish us, brooks.

[kiya]

A thousand of bread
A thousand of beer
A thousand of every good thing.
May he ascend.

[julesjones]

A brave and good man.

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

As soon as I heard the news I wondered if this is where you'd gone to college. I'm sorry to hear this, he sounds like he must have been a remarkable man (as do many of the others we are now hearing stories about).

[(Anonymous) (from livejournal.com)]

thanks for sharing this

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about him all day.

[snippy]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Oh, Brooks, I'm so sorry.

[jenett]

What an amazing man.

[(Anonymous)]

*hugs* Oh, love. *holds*

I believe he was also a Holocaust survivor as well.

[rosefox]

I'm so sorry. May you find comfort.

[suzanne.livejournal.com]

Sorry. Me at work, not logged in.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

You were fortunate to know him. May he be remembered forever.

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. He'll be missed.

[blacktarrant.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, Brooks. His actions yesterday speak of a soul who'll be very much missed in our world.

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this, Brooks. And thank you Professor Librescu, on behalf of the students who lived.

You don't know me...

[redd3123.livejournal.com]

I have been reading journals.. Wanted to say Thanks-so for sharing his story with us.
I grew up in Blacksburg. My Dad was a Professor for over 33 years. VT was my playground.

I am so sad. I know all of you are so shocked;sad;can't find the words...

All I can say ...Is I am so sorry.

The world weeps with you all

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing some of his story. He sounds like an amazing person.

May those who mourn be comforted.

Re: Liviu Librescu

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

i'm sorry, brooks. and suzi. *sigh*. fucked-up world.

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this.

[chorus.livejournal.com]

I heard first about this from a Jewish friend, who had read about it in the Jerusalem Post, and who said it just added to his stun level about the whole thing.

What I said in response there was, in essence: I am not at all surprised he would do this. It seems to me somehow right that someone with his background would have both the bravery and motivation to do it, because someone who went through the Holocaust has a far deeper understanding of all the good reasons to stand up to a madman than most people do.

I say this again here because... I would find it comforting to think that someone who made a sacrifice like this did so knowing what and they were doing and why, and I hope you do, too.

He will be remembered with honor by many who did not even know him.

[celticmoni.livejournal.com]

Wow.

Astonishing, how a man can take the worst humanity has to give, and yet...

[lizw.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful story, even with the sadness of its ending. May he be an inspiration to many.