The Daily OrangeFriends, professors remember slain student for humor, outgoing nature, dedication to music
By Tito Bottitta and Justin Young
Posted: 1/24/02, 2:41 AM EST Section: News
The statue of a giant, headless angel stands in the middle of the second floor at Crouse College. Below it sits a tiny Bulgarian flag, several flowers and an origami crane folded from a music score sheet. It’s part of a small memorial Simeon Popov’s friends and classmates created.
They also taped a single white rose and a piece of art from The Daily Orange to his locker. The art depicts a haloed trombone resting on clouds, with the words “Simeon Popov, 1974-2002.”
Popov, a Syracuse University graduate student, died Sunday after he walked in on a robbery while delivering food to 324 Ostrom Ave. Various groups will host a memorial service for him at 1 p.m. today in the Crouse College’s Setnor Auditorium. His friends and professors remember him as a determined man with a good sense of humor and great luck with women.
He usually greeted women he knew with a warm, “You look beautiful,” and friends recall seeing women with him nearly all the time.
“He was the honey and the bees flocked to him,” said Professor Bill Harris, Popov’s trombone instructor and friend.
Popov also played soccer well enough to make the cut on a 25-person club team that 80 athletes tried out for. Sean View, who joined the team with Popov last August, said his “outright love for the ladies” was well know amongst the team. He reveled in telling his teammates tales of his weekend outings to Awful Als in Armory Square. While his stories varied, his outfit didn’t. He always wore the same late-night uniform of a leather jacket and black slacks.
His school workload this year prevented him from participating in many games. When he did show up, it was just like old times again — including the stories.
When he wasn’t playing sports, he watched them. He loved attending SU football games. Jay Proulux, who played trumpet in the wind ensemble with Popov, said when friends asked if the play on the field or the gyrations of the dance team caught Popov’s attention most, he blushed and laughed. He never offered an answer.
They also taped a single white rose and a piece of art from The Daily Orange to his locker. The art depicts a haloed trombone resting on clouds, with the words “Simeon Popov, 1974-2002.”
Popov, a Syracuse University graduate student, died Sunday after he walked in on a robbery while delivering food to 324 Ostrom Ave. Various groups will host a memorial service for him at 1 p.m. today in the Crouse College’s Setnor Auditorium. His friends and professors remember him as a determined man with a good sense of humor and great luck with women.
He usually greeted women he knew with a warm, “You look beautiful,” and friends recall seeing women with him nearly all the time.
“He was the honey and the bees flocked to him,” said Professor Bill Harris, Popov’s trombone instructor and friend.
Popov also played soccer well enough to make the cut on a 25-person club team that 80 athletes tried out for. Sean View, who joined the team with Popov last August, said his “outright love for the ladies” was well know amongst the team. He reveled in telling his teammates tales of his weekend outings to Awful Als in Armory Square. While his stories varied, his outfit didn’t. He always wore the same late-night uniform of a leather jacket and black slacks.
His school workload this year prevented him from participating in many games. When he did show up, it was just like old times again — including the stories.
When he wasn’t playing sports, he watched them. He loved attending SU football games. Jay Proulux, who played trumpet in the wind ensemble with Popov, said when friends asked if the play on the field or the gyrations of the dance team caught Popov’s attention most, he blushed and laughed. He never offered an answer.
