BU Remembers Lives Lost
Two students die, one injured in Saturday blaze
Tears, prayers, and memories of Rhiannon Lee McCuish and Stephen “Stefan” Adelipour filled Robinson Chapel on Sunday afternoon, as students, chaplains, and counselors came together to remember the two Boston University students who died in a Saturday morning fire at an off-campus apartment building.
“She was the most humble and beautiful person,” Elena Quattrone (SAR’08) said of McCuish. “She never said a bad thing about anyone, she never had one enemy. If there was anyone this should never have happened to, it was her.”
McCuish (CAS’08), 21, of Mashpee, Mass., and Adelipour (SMG’07), 21, of Great Neck, N.Y., died early on Saturday, February 24, when a fire started in an off-campus apartment at 21 Aberdeen St. and spread quickly through two neighboring buildings, displacing more than 30 people and causing an estimated $1 million in damage. A third student, Steven Boursiquot (CGS’05, CAS’07), 22, of Dix Hills, N.Y., is listed in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The names of the victims were released yesterday by the Boston Fire Department, whose investigators believe the fire started after a candle was left burning in a rear bedroom, according to University spokesman Colin Riley. Several other BU students who were displaced in the fire are currently being housed at the Holiday Inn in Brookline.
Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore told the University community of the news in an e-mail on Saturday afternoon, advising all that counseling services are available for students, faculty, and staff.
“This has hit our students very hard,” Elmore said on Sunday. “The death of a young person is always devastating, and, under the circumstances, this situation is especially difficult. Now is a time that we must all look out for one another.”
Yesterday afternoon, students came to Marsh Chapel alone or in small groups to share their grief and remember the victims. McCuish’s friends described her as ‘the nicest person you’d ever meet,” and a devoted Red Sox fan who “could beat anyone at Red Sox trivia.”
“Even though I’m a Yankees fan,” said Marissa Scatena (CAS’08), “I’m wearing this Red Sox ball cap in honor of her.”
On his BU Web page, Adelipour described himself as a basketball, football, and poker enthusiast who enjoyed “the many things the world has to offer.”
Elmore said that the University will spend the next few days assessing the need for, and providing, counseling and support services. “We’ve had too much experience with this type of situation this year,” he said, “but I appreciate the way in which the BU community comes together in times of sorrow.”
Counselors and chaplains will be available Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. in the Howard Thurman Center, on the lower level of the George Sherman Student Union, at 775 Commonwealth Ave. Counseling services remain available through the Behavioral Medicine Clinic at Student Health Services. Students may speak with a member of the counseling staff by calling 617-353-3569 or by going to 881 Commonwealth Avenue. University chaplains are available at Marsh Chapel, and residence hall directors and resident assistants from the Office of Residence Life are also available at campus residences and can be contacted by calling or visiting a residence hall office.
Jessica Ullian can be reached at jullian@bu.edu. Art Jahnke (jahnke@bu.edu) and Vicky Waltz (vwaltz@bu.edu) contributed to this article.