Pitt’s Greensburg campus remembers Matthew Tembo

More than 100 people gathered last Wednesday in the Mary Lou Campana Chapel and Lecture Hall… More than 100 people gathered last Wednesday in the Mary Lou Campana Chapel and Lecture Hall in Greensburg to celebrate the life of Matthew Tembo, a Pitt Greensburg student who died March 7 in Oakland as a result of alcohol poisoning.

Tembo, a 22-year-old native of France, died while visiting the Carnegie Mellon chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity for a birthday celebration, according to Pittsburgh police detective Christine Williams.

Edward Strimlan, chief forensic investigator for the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, ruled his death an accident following an autopsy performed March 8.

The students, faculty and staff who gathered at the service shared memories and condolences over Tembo’s passing, according to a report on the Pitt-Greensburg website.

Students played music by Jason Mraz, one of Tembo’s favorite artists. They also read passages from author Khalil Gibran and said prayers to express their feelings about the young man’s passing.

Sharon Smith, president of Pitt-Greensburg, opened the memorial service by reminding those attending to see the coming months as a time of healing, according to the website.

She noted that Tembo was described as a natural leader, a diplomat and an exceptional student whose perception showed through his writing, questions and comments.

Other speakers described Tembo as a strong, confident young man who was persuasive, outgoing and charismatic, the website says.

Tembo, originally from eastern France, transferred to Pitt-Greensburg in fall 2009 and majored in management, friends said. He had been enrolled at Webster University in St. Louis and CMU before joining the Pitt community — transitions Tembo always made smoothly.

Michael Murphy, the vice president of Campus Affairs at CMU, sent an e-mail to students and faculty last week in response to Tembo’s death, according to a report in the The Tartan, Carnegie Mellon’s student newspaper.

The letter described Tembo, who was a Pi Kappa Alpha brother during his time at CMU, as a genuine and sincere person who was highly motivated in the classroom.

“While Matt was a student here for a short time, he was widely connected across campus and within the fraternity and sorority community in particular,” Murphy wrote. “Among his many activities, he especially loved soccer, both as a player and a fan. Tembo’s friends describe him as personable and outgoing, making and maintaining friendships easily, with a genuine nature and sincerity that endeared him to others.”

Tembo’s immediate family could not be reached for comment, but many friends and former classmates shared their feelings on a Facebook page dedicated to his life in the U.S. and abroad.

“When the ‘Blizzard of 2010’ rolled through in February, a bunch of us decided to do some hardcore sledding,” recalled Pitt-Greensburg student Julian Critchfield, one of Tembo’s friends. “I remember on one of his runs, Matt went down the hill in front of our building face first and just disappeared into a snow bank. It is small moments like that with him that are the most memorable.”

Critchfield went on to describe Tembo as always fun-loving and ready to do something eccentric or exciting.

“His dynamic nature stood as a reminder of sorts,” Critchfield said. “You have to go out and enjoy life, live it adventurously.”

Julie Newman, another friend and fellow Pitt Greensburg student, recalled how engaging and eloquent Tembo had been in the classroom. The two took Cultural Anthropology together and lived in the same dorm, she said.

“He always participated in class and always impressed his teachers with the depth of his thoughts and arguments,” Newman said in an e-mail. “The only thing was that he had the tiniest handwriting. I remember trying to copy his notes one time. It didn’t work out very well, but any time spent with Matt was always fun.”

“I don’t know anyone that didn’t get along with him,” Newman said. “He was a presence that is so missed all over campus, by everyone who knew him.”

Tembo’s athletic abilities also frequently shined through his kind-hearted demeanor, Newman said, particularly on the four-square court.

“We played with a Hannah Montana kick-ball that Matt would always laugh at,” Newman said. “He was pretty much in the server’s square the entire time we played. He would always stick around afterward to just talk and cool off.”

Newman went on to describe one of the first times she met Matt.

“We were just sitting around and watching this trippy cartoon and making jokes about it,” Newman said. “I commented on his ring. He said it was one of his favorites and asked if I wanted to borrow it. I said yes and gave him my silver peace-sign ring in return. Now I still have his, and he still has mine. I know he’ll always be with me because of this, and that gives me comfort.”