A memorial service will be held in the MIT Chapel at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4 for Lucy Crespo da Silva, the 22-year-old senior from Albany, NY who died Sunday, Nov. 19.
Miss Crespo da Silva, a Brazilian-American student born in the US, was to graduate this fall with a degree in earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences. She planned to start graduate work in the subject at MIT in February.
She fell to her death Sunday night from her room on the 14th floor of Westgate, an MIT residence. Based on a note she left in the room, MIT Police are treating the death as a suicide.
She played forward on the women's varsity ice hockey team, and was a longtime resident of MacGregor House, where she served as rush chair.
She is survived by her parents, who now live in Albany, NY. They were informed Sunday night of her death.
"This was a woman with enormous gifts and potential who was involved in a variety of things over the years," said Robert M. Randolph, senior associate dean for student life.
Katia Pashkevitch, coach of the hockey team, said the team was stunned to hear of her death. "There are a lot of flowers and candles in the locker room," she said. "We are going to put her number 9 on our shirts in memory of her."
Counselors and psychiatrists from the Office of the Dean for Student Life and MIT Medical's Mental Health service went to Westgate to help her friends and other residents.
