The parents of murdered postdoctoral associate Constantine Giannitsis and many of his MIT friends and colleagues will participate in a memorial service at the MIT Chapel on Saturday from 4-6pm.
His father, Greek Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Anastassios Giannitsis, and mother, Anna, are expected to be joined by Greek Counsel General George Chadzimichelajis at the service. Greece's ambassador to the United States, Alexander Philon, has also been invited.
Constantine Giannitsis, 29, was stabbed to death and robbed of $8 in cash as well as traveler's checks, credit cards and his passport while on vacation in Taxco, Mexico, on December 31. Mexican police arrested three teenagers on January 3.
Dr. Giannitsis completed his thesis in the fall and was scheduled to receive his PhD in earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences on February 21. His thesis adviser was Professor Richard Lindzen.
In addition to sharing recollections of Dr. Giannitsis at the service, his friends are creating a collage of photographs and memories that will be presented to his parents. In the January 10 Tech Talk, it was erroneously reported that the service would take place in February.
For information on the service, call the International Students Office at x3-3705.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on January 24, 2001.
