Cornell senior Ian Neil Alberta, 22, of Ithaca, died in an off-campus fire in the early morning of Saturday, May 13, at 111-113 Heights Court in the Cornell Heights section of Ithaca.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 17, at 4 p.m. in Sage Chapel on campus.

Alberta, who graduated from Ithaca High School in 2001, was scheduled to graduate in December 2006 from the College of Architecture, Art and Planning. He was a fine arts major and played bass guitar in local rock band Somatic Umbra.

"We are all deeply saddened by this terrible loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with Ian's family," said Cornell Vice President for University Communications Tommy Bruce.

Another Cornell student received minor burns in the fire and was treated and released by Cayuga Medical Center. The Ithaca Fire Department, which responded to the blaze after a 911 call at 3:15 a.m., called the fire accidental, originating with a plastic container for discarded smoking materials that ignited during the night.

The university and local support agencies assisted other residents of the duplex in finding alternative housing, and offering counseling and other support.

The memorial service for Alberta is open to the public and will be followed by a reception in the Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room. Free campus parking will be available after 3 p.m. in the Hoy parking garage by Schoellkopf Field.

Alberta's family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Habitat for Humanity--Cornell, Willard Straight Hall, Box 91, Ithaca, NY 14853.

A community support meeting was held the evening of May 14 at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, coordinated by the Dean of Students Office's community support team and attended by students, faculty members, staff, administrators and friends of Alberta's from the community.