Classes resume at Wiley College following winter break today but, as students, faculty and staff start their spring semester, they will do so with heavy hearts following the death of faculty member Valentyn Siniak.

The assistant professor of biology from Ukraine was in his sixth year at the college before he died in a motorcycle crash Friday at age 37.

Its been awkward, said Dr. Walter Shumate, Wileys Dean of the Division of Science, of what it was like going to work on Monday. When youre used to seeing somebody and then theyre not there, every time we should see him theres this glaring absence. Its really a cave in our hearts that were trying to fill with him but hes not here right now. Its just been very awkward.

Shumate said there wasnt any one instance he remembered that could illustrate the kind of person Siniak was, but that he there are few who are so endearing as the his departed colleague and friend.

He always worked with students with their problems, not only in class but also out of class, he said. There were so many times a student would come to him with a personal issue or a work-related issue and he would sit down with them and help them through it or give advice. If he couldnt give them good advice, hed just sit down and listen and be that sounding board they needed. Every student in every one of his classes adored him absolutely.

Thats no hyperbole. Everyone truly cared for him.

A lover of photography, Shumate said Siniak had a genuine curiosity that never faded.

Whether it was finding out what was wrong with students, or how to help students, or anything in the realm of science, he was always curious, said Shumate. He was a great friend to everyone in the building, and were going to miss him terribly because of that.

He loved to see students happy and was always a big fan of seeing people happy in general.

Dr. Khaled Al-Agha, a professor of mathematics at Wiley, said hell remember Siniak, who was his office neighbor, as a wonderful friend, colleague and a good person.

Excerpt from:
Wiley College campus saddened by death of biology instructor