We live in a world full of demanding, and unhappy people. Our society is not a happy place. In it, people often don't take the time to appreciate what they have. In fact, it is rare to find a person with the ability to see the joy and possibilities that life can provide. Costa was such a person

Costa entered my life as many students do- he came into my office because he needed me to help him work within the bureaucracy of the School. Costa knew that he had cancer. He wasn't looking for sympathy or special favors. He simply wanted to make things work. He believed that everything would work out, and that he just needed to find the way.

Although he was clearly a fighter, with the strength of will and character to believe that he could win his battle against illness-there was a tremendous sense of calm about him as well. It was those features that made it so easy to like him and to care about him. Within a very period of time, we all came to care greatly for Costa. Each time he visited an administrative office, a verbal report would have to be given to the rest of the staff. Everyone wanted to know how he was. They all asked: "How is Costa doing?"

We were pulling for him-not just because he was a man who was fighting a dreadful disease-not just because of the unfairness of a young and vital man being drained of his strength and life-not just because he was a kind, gentle and self-effacing person. But because he was all those things and more. He made us believe that each setback was simply an inconvenience, that he would succeed to defeat the cancer and gain his MBA.

I am truly sorry that Costa did not win his final battle. I am also truly glad to have known him. He was a very special man and his spirit will continue to live with those of us who knew him, as an example of strength and of faith.

There has been no solicitation or fundraising campaigns at this time. We will begin our efforts in the first quarter of 2000