In Memoriam

David (Diego) Ladowski, 29, was born in Argentina on May 31, 1973, and immigrated to Israel in 1992. He achieved what not many people can in a short period of time. He was a special human being always caring for others. A humanist, pacifist with strong convictions but also very humble. 

He studied in the Preparatory Program - Mechina at the Rothberg School and completed his undergraduate studies (B.A.) in Communication at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1996. 

He was fluent in 5 languages (Spanish, English, German, French and Hebrew) and he was able to communicate in many more. David Diego served in the Israel Defense Forces as an Academic Officer. Following his completion of military service in 1999, he held administrative positions at the Rothberg International School of the Hebrew University and served as a broadcast supervisor at the Ministry of Communication.

In 2001 David Diego began his career as a Foreign Ministry cadet, and from an early stage, he stood out as a result of his impressive appearance, his pleasant and engaging manner, his smile and the excellent working relations that he developed with all those who came into contact with him.

A year ago, on the completion of the Cadet Course, David Diego was assigned to the Western Europe Department 3 (European Union Affairs). Even in the course of his work in the Western Europe Department, Diego was noted for his professionalism, his individual abilities and his modesty.

From the start of his career, Diego was viewed as a great talent, and he had a promising career in the diplomatic service. He was a gifted diplomat.

On the day of the bombing, David Diego was shortly due to assume his first diplomatic assignment at the Embassy of Israel in Lima, Peru as Second Secretary, Deputy Chief of Mission, for which he had gone to the university to submit the last assignment which was due for the completion of his Master's studies in Public Policy.

The Ladowski family and the Hebrew University had the initiative of giving the David (Diego) Ladowski Merit Scholarship awards as a way to continue with David Diego's legacy and to unite him to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem forever.

Many things have also been done to immortalize David Diego in Israel and around the word. In Jerusalem, David Diego's name was inscribed at the Mt. Hertzl Cemetery and in the memorial wall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; In Chicago, IL USA, the David Diego Ladowski Memorial Foundation was created; in Quebec, Canada, a memorial plaque has been placed; in Lima, Peru the Inca University Garcilaso de La Vega named their main auditorium after David Diego and B'nai B'rith International, in partnership with that University, initiated a very ambitious project that promotes volunteering as an instrument to fight poverty and help kids, which is called the "David Diego Ladowski Project"; In Buenos Aires, Argentina a memorial plaque with a monument was placed.

David Diego Ladowski was buried in Netanya. He leaves behind his parents, Abraham and Sara, his sister, Roxana and his brother Gabi.

In spite of his physical absence, his spirit and goodwill remains in all of us and those who follow his example to make this world a better place.

Revital Barashi was the youngest of thirteen children in a Jerusalem family. She lived downtown, and about six months ago celebrated her 30th birthday. For the past seven years she worked with and trained young staff at the Hebrew University's Law Faculty.
Her conscientiousness and the responsibility she showed in the performance of her duties won her the university's Outstanding Employee award in 2000.

According to the commendation cited at the awards ceremony: "Revital excels in all she does. She may always have her hands full but she is nevertheless attentive to and patient with all who turn to her, her natural courtesy unimpaired by her diligence. She is intelligent and will try to execute every task as quickly as possible, drawing on all the help she is able to muster."

Colleagues describe her as "pretty, talented, warm and always ready to help. Revital did her work efficiently and meticulously and, at all times, with a smile."

Marla Bennett, 24, from San Diego, California, was an M.A. student in Jewish Education at the Rothberg International School's Division of Graduate Studies, and was jointly enrolled in the Pardes Educators Program at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies. In 2000, she received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley. In 1998, she spent her Junior year on the Rothberg International School's One Year Program.

Benjamin Blutstein, 25, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was an M.A. student in Jewish Education at the Rothberg International School's Division of Graduate Studies, and was jointly enrolled in the Pardes Educators Program at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies. In 2000, he earned a B.A. in Religion and Judaic Studies from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. He was the president of Hillel at Dickinson College in 1998-1999. Blutstein was a disk jockey, using the stage name "Benny the B."

Dina Carter, 38, was employed at the Jewish National and University Library (JNUL) on the Edmond J. Safra Campus at Givat Ram, where she worked as a librarian and archivist in the manuscripts department and archives. Born in North Carolina, she earned a B.A. from Duke University and an MSW degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dina immigrated to Israel in 1990.

Janis Ruth Coulter, 37, a native of Boston, graduated in History and Judaic Studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1991. In 1996, she converted to Judaism. As a Master's candidate in Judaic Studies at the University of Denver, she was a visiting graduate student at Hebrew University in 1996-1997, during which time she also worked at the University's School of Education. In 1999, she moved to New York and began working for the Rothberg International School's Office of Academic Affairs. As assistant director, she was responsible for all Rothberg International School graduate programs and scholarships, liaising with American institutions of education and actively recruiting students. As a student, she received numerous scholarships, including a travel grant from the Dorot Foundation. She had arrived in Israel the day before the attack, after escorting a group of U.S. students to Jerusalem to begin their studies at Hebrew University.

David Gritz, 24, from Paris, France, who had dual U.S.-French citizenship, was about to begin the Summer Ulpan at the Rothberg International School. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Paris IV in July 2000 and had just completed his first year of studies for his Master's degree in Philosophy at the University of Paris X, where he had received recognition as an outstanding student. He spent summers at his parents’ house in Peru, MA, in the Berkshires.

Levina Shapira was the head of the student services department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Born in Jerusalem in 1949, she was a long-time employee of the university. After completing her army service, she studied Sociology and Political Science at Hebrew University, earning her B.A. in 1972. She began working for the university as a student and became a member of the staff after graduation. Her appointments included academic secretary at the Faculty of Science and associate dean of the Faculty of Humanities. During her tenure as head of the student services department, Levina introduced and upgraded a wide range of online and computerized services – the most advanced available to students in Israel. Prior to the terror attack, she has been involved in planning the new student information center on the Mount Scopus campus.

Dafna Spruch was born in Tel Aviv and, following her military service, enrolled at the Hebrew University where she completed a BA in psychology and sociology. After her studies, she worked as a systems analyst at the Ministry of Education's data processing unit and, then, as a senior analyst at the National Library. Some two years later she consented to a request from the Student Administration to join its staff, and remained there for most of her professional life. It is from there that she set out 26 years later for a lunch from which she was never to return.
Dafna soon became the backbone of the department, acting as both deputy director and the historical memory of an indispensable rationale; yet she always shunned pivotal positions and refused all offers to head the system.

Her exceptional performance over the years not only singled her out but also earned her the commendation of superiors and colleagues alike. Praise ranged from the professional to the personal: "excellent worker," "talented and highly competent," "outstanding," "excellent and very intelligent" and - "a good friend." Colleagues say that there was always room in her heart; she always had a shoulder to offer, time to listen and offer sound advice.

Dafna reached high - new and innovative ideas, whether her own or others', always fell on receptive ears. At the same time, her feet were firmly planted on the ground, her common sense able to anchor the imaginative and translate it into practice. She could separate the wheat from the chaff and understood the intricacies involved in the Administration's large systems, finding simple solutions to make them work. Among other things, she and her staff initiated the full computerization of a variety of forms, including student schedules, grades and courses, as well as follow-up on teaching loads, and the implementation of ideas adopted by the system as a whole.

Dafna was a warm, loving and devoted wife and mother, who always put her family first.

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