More than 400 friends of Gabriel Piedrahita '96 gathered at a memorial service in his memory at Agassiz Theatre Saturday.

Approximately 100 more were turned away from the theatre, which was packed with those gathering to celebrate the life of the Winthrop House senior who was killed on December 23 in the crash of the American Airlines plane en route to his home in Cali, Colombia.

Winthrop House Co-Masters Paul D. Hanson and Cynthia Rosenberger welcomed those present, who included Piedrahita's parents Francisco and Claudia, and brothers Vincente and Sandro. Sandro Piedrahita graduated in the class of 1990.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 also attended the service.

Hanson urged the teary-eyed audience "to try and live life as Gabriel would have lived it--to the fullest."

Following the masters' remarks, Gregory Nagy, Jones professor of classical Greek literature, made brief remarks.

Nagy, who first met Piedrahita where, he taught him in Literature and Arts C-14: "The Concept of the Hero in Greek Civilization," said he dined last fall with Piedrahita and his friend Mary J. Hahn '97 at a faculty dinner in Winthrop House.

"I was spellbound," Nagy said, complementing Piedrahita's dream of winning a Rockefeller Memorial Fellowship to travel in Argentina documenting folk tales in the hopes of studying his conception of the hero in Spanish-speaking society.

Following Nagy's remarks, Holly Hogan, Winthrop resident tutor in Spanish literature, read a poem by Stephen Bender and Hahn played a Bach violin concerto, accompanied by Mary Farbood.

Piedrahita's roommates each told stories of their lives together at Harvard John E. Tessitore '96 likened his relationship with Piedrahita to that in the Bruce Springsteen song "Blood Bathers," recaliing the first time the two listened to the song together, when Piedrahita's CD player began to skill.

"At the time, neither Gabriel nor I picked up on the meaning of that song for our relationship--but the song was an exact expression of that particular moment in our lives together--both of us annoyed, but still together, still listening to the same music," he said.

Brendan H. Sheehan '96 recalled Piedrahita's wit and intellect, saying he believed Piedrahita had a special affinity for economics, friendship and "sweeping women off their feet."

Joshua L. Solomon '96, who lived with Piedrahita during their sophomore year, praised his former roommate for being idealistic and naive, saying that millions of people who never knew him nonetheless have lost a valuable compatriot because of the good Piedrahita had dreamed of doing in his home country of Colombia.

Douglas W. Scott '96, after joking about Piedrahita's carefree nature and his lack of punctuality, said he was struggling to understand Piedrahita's death during his senior year of college when he was busy with recruiting, fellowships and making plans for the future.

"Maybe he did get recruited; if there is anyone who God could use at his right hand trying to solve the world's problems, it's Gabriel," Scott said. "He couldn't have anyone more enthusiastic, talented and loving to help him. Sure, everything will happen a half-hour later than it's supposed to, but it will give the rest of us time to think about what is really important."