Thursday, April 16, 2009
Dominique Mavridorakis was at a loss for words.
Mavridorakis, a native French speaker, said he could not find words in the English language to express his gratitude to those who planted a tree behind Summerfield Hall on campus in honor of his son, Dimitri Mavridorakis, who died after suffering injuries in a car accident on Feb. 7.
“For me it is a sign that — I can’t explain it in English — that my son is not alone,” Mavridorakis said. “It shows your mind is with him and it makes me warm to my heart.”
Mavridorakis, his wife and one of his sons were in Lawrence this week to attend the dedication of a tree yesterday to honor Mavridorakis, who was a student in the School of Business’ MBA program. The MBA program and the Graduate Business Council sponsored the planting of the tree for Mavridorakis last Monday, as well as another tree for MBA student Gregory Ballenger, who died last Sept. 26 after a battle with cancer.
Nick Arthachinda, Lawrence first year MBA student and the president of the Graduate Business Council, said plans to plant a tree in Mavridorakis’ memory were set immediately following his death. But, because Mavridorakis passed away in February and the season wasn’t right, the planting and dedication were delayed until this week.
Arthachinda said students in the MBA program were tight-knit and that the losses of Mavridorakis and Ballenger were like losing two brothers.
“Everyone notices someone’s gone, someone’s missing,” Arthachinda said. “We’re pretty much a family. We’re an MBA program, but we’re all so close.”
Dee Steinle, the adviser to master’s students in the School of Business, knew both Mavridorakis and Ballenger very well, she said. Steinle said Dominique Mavridorakis approached her about planting the tree in honor of his son and said it felt very natural to put up not just one tree but two for both Mavridorakis and Ballenger.
“With spring being the season of renewal, it’s a nice thing to honor their memories,” Steinle said. “It’ll give way for us to do some healing, and as we see the trees grow, it will remind us of them.”
She said that as she leaves Summerfield Hall every day after her workday is through, she looks back at the trees — just seedlings now — and the sight makes her happy.
“I just smile,” Steinle said. “They’re little seedlings with promise — and it’s a healing sight to see them there.”
— — Edited by Heather Melanson
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