Slippery Rock Gazette

Peter J. Marcucci
Special Correspondent

Journey of Hope to Haiti Faculty and Students Honored

On Monday, January 11, 2010—two faculty and twelve students of Lynn University’s “Journey of Hope to Haiti” mission, arrived in Port-au-Prince on a humanitarian and learning assignment; their goal, in part, was to change the lives of many.

Just one day later at 4:53 PM, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, leaving destruction beyond comprehension. When the dust finally settled, the estimate was over 300,000 injured and over 220,000 killed.

Closest to us and among those killed were two Lynn University professors: Dr. Richard Bruno and Dr. Patrick Hartwick; and four of their twelve students: Stephanie Crispinelli, Britney Gengel, Christine Gianacaci and Courtney Hays.

And so it was, on Friday, March 16, 2012, on the Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida campus–driven by the sheer will and determination of its many contributors, those lost lives were remembered and honored, by the dedication of the Lynn University Remembrance Plaza.

Packed with a comprehensively quiet crowd consisting of families and friends of the deceased as well as faculty, students, and media—the dedication ceremony began with “America the Beautiful,” performed by the Boynton Beach Community High School Choir. The ceremony then transitioned to a warm introductory speech by Lynn University President, Dr. Kevin M. Ross, forever passing the Remembrance Plaza on to the hearts and minds of its true owners.

Addressing the audience, Dr. Ross said, “Today we not only recognize the academic accomplishment of these six outstanding individuals, but also celebrate their personal accomplishments as well.

“The Journey of Hope and each of its members will forever be an important part of the Lynn story, and today we insure that their lives and legacies are never forgotten.”

While traversing the path leading to the plaza, the viewer is immediately charmed by six tabebuia trees, symbolic of the six lost lives. These trees, perfectly in-line with a wall of Labradorite Blue Austral granite, are a precursor of things to come.
Within moments of walking closer, you are then enamored by an archway (symbolic of the unity of the six lost) supported by five Labradorite Blue Astral granite pillars.

Upon entering the gated entryway, the eye is then effortlessly guided to a magnificent array of six dichroic glass prisms, also symbolic of the six lost lives.

These prisms when fueled by an ever-changing angle of sunlight, have the unique ability to produce a mirror image, or radiate an iridescent spectrum of delightful, colored light. This collage, enchanting at first glance and mesmerizing by the second, is indicative of the goodness and beauty of the six fallen.

Then, as your stand quietly paused, captive to the energy of the prisms and spellbound by the serene sounds of the archway’s drizzling water, your senses are stirred by a brilliant ballet of swirling colors in the reflective granite pool below.

Finally, as the glistening water gently moves toward the end of its journey, ultimately cascading down the symbolic six-step waterfall into the lake below, you now begin to look deeply inside yourself, hypersensitive to thoughts of infinity, mortality, humanity and self-purpose. It is then that you realize that you’re journey has only just begun.

Designed by Sousa Architecture, Miramar, Florida, the plaza’s oblique concrete design is built to withstand intense Florida hurricanes and is clad exclusively with 2 and 3 cm Labradorite Blue Astral granite, all selflessly donated by Marble of The World, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Originating from four blocks quarried in Madagascar and sawn in Italy, these exotic slabs, valued at well over $200,000, are truly a dazzling collage of natural art.

“After hearing about the tragedy, I immediately called the school and said that Marble of The World would be very pleased to donate if there are any plans for a monument,” said Mr. Charles Urso, President of Marble of The World. “Being a parent, I know that there is nothing worse than losing your child, and we really wanted to be involved.

“Then, months later, when we were asked to help and were shown the concept of glass prisms, I knew there was only one clear choice of stone that would complement the structure: Labradorite Blue Astral granite.

“These slabs are the finest example of Labradorite Blue Astral I have ever seen. When you put enough light behind the stone, the light that radiates from the other side does so with colors beyond belief. We were sure it was the right choice.”

Speaking from the heart, he continued, “All of us at Marble of The World feel honored to have been chosen to participate in this memorial. We feel the monument is magnificent and that we’ve helped in creating a structure that is a lasting experience for all who view it.”

The Lynn University Remembrance Plaza will forever embody the dreams and spirit of all who embarked on that fateful journey. Its archway will forever unify the fallen, its sun-fed prisms will ceaselessly bring remembrance to their beauty, and its reflection pool shall eternally allow all who look deeply, to see the reflection of the fallen, within the reflection of themselves.

Peter J. Marcucci has over 25- years of fabrication experience in the stone industry. Send any comments to pjmgsxr@aol.com.