Dan Pirfo Confirmed Dead
This just in. Forensics experts confirm that the body recently found in Fall Creek Gorge is that of Dan Pirfo:
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dan Pirfo,” said Susan H. Murphy, Cornell vice president for student and academic services. “Our thoughts and prayers go to his family and his many friends. During this time, the university is offering support and counsel to all who have been touched by this tragic event.”
Pirfo, 19, from Washington, D.C., was reported missing April 25 after having last been seen April 24 in his Mews Hall residence on campus. An extensive ground and aerial search for the missing student was carried out by Cornell University Police and the Ithaca Police Department, with support from other agencies. Pirfo’s body was discovered by three fishermen May 10 at the base of Ithaca Falls on Fall Creek near campus.
The positive identification of the body was announced today by the Tompkins County medical examiner and the Ithaca Police Department, which is handling the investigation.
Read more at the Cornell News…
Update:
Todd Carlson, Residence Hall Director of MEWS, writes:
A candlelight memorial gathering for Dan Pirfo ‘08 will take place at 10:00 pm this Saturday on Rawlings Green, North Campus, Cornell University.
Open to All.
Update 2:
The Ithaca Police Department have ruled Dan A. Pirfo’s leap into the gorge accidental, saying that “injuries on the body were consistent with a fall into the gorge.” Sounds like BS to me–students typically don’t accidentally fall into the gorges. Without a full justification, I feel that the IPD is ignoring evidence to the contrary. Or maybe Pirfo’s catholic.
Update 3:
For more information on Dan Pirfo’s death, please see the following resources:
- Where is Dan Pirfo?
- Dan Pirfo Still Missing
- More on Dan Pirfo
- Dan Pirfo Confirmed Dead
- Dan Pirfo Revisited in Candid Photos
SLOPE DAY 2005
This is Elliott Bäck bringing you the first Slope Day 2005 reports, hot of east-side cornell. The music this year was Starting Line, followed by The Game, and finally Snoop Dogg, who took the stage more than 20 minutes later than planned. There was also plenty of beer, free food, police officers, and EMS life savers for the totally inebriated. Check out these pix:
Get yourself a clown-made balloon animal…
… as well as some correct-looking airbrushed tattoos
The slope was packed and very crowded…
… with a big stage surrounded by people …
… but that didn’t stop students from bringing their grandparents to see Snoop Dogg!
When Snoop Dogg says “put your hands in the air,” you put ‘em up. Blocking the shot.
I couldn’t get close enough to the stage for any great Snoop Dogg pictures, but it was ok. The concerts were too loud to really enjoy anyway–you had to just be there for the whole ambiance and have fun in the afternoon!
Pirfo still missing
It’s been over a week since Dan Pirfo went missing from his dorm room, and there is still no news. At this point, the only logical conclusion to be reached is that something fatal has happened to him, be it another Cornell University suicide, or simply an accidental death. As any Cornell students knows, there’s plenty of history here:
- Ritesh S. Shetty, who comitted suicide and wasn’t found for months
- Jun Wang, a freshman engineering student, who was recovered from Fall Creek
- Alan Comerford, who “fell” into Cascadilla gorge
- Timothy Lewis Keery, an Ithaca resident who died near Beebe lake
- Scot Elwood, who “inadvertently” jumped into a gorge
- An unnamed Ithacan who went gorge leaping, too…
So, with this brief history, you might want to take Mike Harrison’s words to heart:
Now I don’t want to diminish the tragic nature and extremely depressing quality of student deaths, but I guess if there’s one thing you should realize before you come to Cornell, it’s that your chances of dying here are pretty much the same as they are anywhere else. Man, I really hope your parents get a chance to read this.
Update
For more information on Dan Pirfo’s death, please see the following resources:
