SU Ph.D. student from China, 28, dies from injuries incurred in accidental fall

SU Ph.D. student from China, 28, dies from injuries incurred in accidental fallJuly 29, 2008Kevin Morrowkdmorrow@syr.edu

Weixing Cai, 28, a Ph.D. candidate in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, died Monday at University Hospital from injuries sustained Sunday when he fell accidentally from the balcony of his Syracuse apartment.

Cai had earlier this month completed his requirements for a Ph.D. in statistics and was due to graduate in late August; his thesis advisor was mathematics professor Pinyuen Chen. Cai had received a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, starting this fall.

A native of Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, China, Cai arrived at SU in July 2003. This summer, he served as a math consultant for the SummerStart program and taught the “Elements of Modern Mathematics” (MAT 183) course.

Cai is survived by his wife, Yanna Ding, as well as his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jin Yao Cai.

“I was very saddened to learn about the tragic loss of Weixing Cai,” says Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “My thoughts are with his wife, Yanna, their family in China, and with his many friends in the mathematics department, across campus and in the community. Syracuse University shares in their loss.”

“His untimely death is a heavy blow for all of us,” says Eugene Poletsky, professor and chair of the mathematics department. “Weixing was always in a good mood, energetic, cheerful and a very pleasant person to deal with. Everybody remembers him as an excellent student, friend, researcher and teacher.”

Counseling services are available from the Syracuse University Counseling Center (443-4715), Hendricks Chapel (443-2901) and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (443-1087) for those who knew Cai.

Greenleaf Funeral Home in Syracuse is managing the funeral arrangements, which have yet to be finalized. The mathematics department is planning a memorial service to occur in the fall semester.