Friends Honor Ilya Chalik

Friends and family filled the pews of Memorial Church yesterday night during a service to honor the memory of Adams House resident Ilya Chalik ’11.

Chalik died Sunday morning in his Adams dorm room. Administrators have not released details regarding the cause of Chalik’s death.

During the service, various speakers shared memories of Chalik’s kindness and generosity.

“It’s moments when we love and are loved that make life worth living, and Ilya obviously did that for each and every one of us,” Matthew R. Cohen ’11 said, his voice cracking.

Cohen attended Northside College Preparatory High School with Chalik and lived blocks away from him when they were young.

Chalik—a lover of dance, a Tai Chi expert, and an avid traveler—was described as “a congenial person” who was devoted to God and “loved life.”

“His death comes so unexpectedly and so much too soon,” said Allan M. Brandt, a history of science professor who taught a graduate level seminar in which Chalik was enrolled.

Anna M. Resnick ’09, who knew Chalik from Harvard Hillel, said, “There are some times when you feel really small and there isn’t really anything you can say.”

Resnick instead chose to lead those in attendance in a traditional Jewish melody.

Although Resnick began the singing, the entire congregation joined in the heart-felt tune.

Later in the memorial service, Alexander K. Sherbany ’11, one of Chalik’s roommates, said that Chalik “loved people very much.”

He recalled a time when, on a hike, after Sherbany fell into a stream up to his ankles, Chalik offered Sherbany a pair of his own socks.

“He was the kind of guy that would share without a second thought,” Sherbany said.

During his time at Harvard, Chalik was secretary of the Harvard College in Asia Program and co-president of the Harvard Tai Chi Tiger Crane Club. Linfeng Yang ’11, Chalik’s co-president, spoke of Chalik’s character and described his love of Tai Chi. When he finished speaking, Yang bowed to the stage as a sign of respect.

At the conclusion of the memorial, with tutor Charles E. Lockwood on the piano, Adams House Masters John G. “Sean” Palfrey ’67 and Judith S. Palfrey ’67 walked down the aisle, acknowledging those who showed up to pay their respects.

Since Chalik’s passing two days ago, over 30 people have left him messages on an Adams House online forum entitled “From Adams.”

At the memorial, Sean Palfrey said that the following quote from the page summed up his interactions with Chalik: “No matter what kind of day I was having, it would always be better after talking to [Ilya].”

Remembrances continued after the memorial at a reception in Adams House.

—Staff writer Hana N. Rouse can be reached at hrouse@college.harvard.edu.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction.

CORRECTION: FEB. 15, 2011.

The Feb. 15 article "Friends Honor Ilya Chalik" incorrectly stated that Alexander K. Sherbany '11 had fallen into a river with water up to his knees. It was, in fact, a stream, and the water reached only his ankles.