Members of the School of Law community gathered at the Newman Center Tuesday evening to remember Ryan J. Mullins, a second-year law student who died this weekend.
Mullins, a native of Mount Sinai, N.Y., suffered a burst aorta in his Creekside Village apartment early Sunday morning.
Nearly 200 people -- mostly law students -- attended the memorial service. R. Nils Olsen, Jr., dean of the School of Law, spoke first, followed by several of Mullins' classmates.
Many students and professors developed strong friendships with Mullins in his first year at UB, Olsen said.
"I've spoken with many members of the law school over the past two days," Olsen said. "I've been touched by the number of people who said they lost a best friend."
Each of Mullins' classmates elicited frequent laughter from the audience as they recalled the Long Island native's affable demeanor, quirky sense of humor and affinity for New York's sports teams.
Matthew R. Coseo, a second-year law student, recalled that he attended many Buffalo Sabres games with Mullins last year. The only one they missed, he said, was a game against the Islanders. He noted that the Sabres open their season against the Islanders this year, and he and Mullins had tickets for the game.
"I know where he is -- a place where the Islanders win the Cup every year, where the Rangers suck, where the Giants win the Super Bowl every year, and where Guinness flows down from the clouds," said second-year law student Matthew R. Coseo. "And I know he's happy, because he was happy here."
Though he worked hard at his studies, Mullins' classmates said he enjoyed going out on weekends and he was always the center of attention at parties.
"He had that perfect balance in life," said Stephen J. Leary, a second-year law student. "He knew how to set priorities, but he also lived life to the fullest. He supported every part of my life, from my golf game to my keg stands."
Law student Heather DeCastro said Mullins was "selfless" and "kind."
"I'm going to look for him every day," she said. "I'm going to miss that smile every single day."
Many of the other speakers noted that Mullins loved Buffalo, and planned to live in the area after he graduated. Theresa Maurelli, Mullins' mother, said that he liked the city's laid-back atmosphere.
"He used to say, 'I don't want you to be upset, but I'm not going to stay in Long Island,'" Maurelli said. "I told him it was all right; I wanted him to be happy."
According to Olsen, Mullins wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer when he graduated. Olsen said that Mullins was involved in the law school's Criminal Law Center.
In his remarks, Olsen announced that the School of Law will establish a prize to be "given annually to the senior demonstrating the greatest commitment to and proficiency in criminal law and criminal trial practice skills."
"I hope in this small way we can honor Ryan's memory for generations of law students to come," Olsen said.
After the students' remarks, each person in the crowd lit a small candle. As the crowd said a prayer, thunder -- audible through the chapel's open doors -- rumbled outside.
After the service, which lasted approximately one hour, many of those who attended drove along Lake LaSalle to the South Lake Village Community Center for a reception.
Maurelli said the emotional remarks of Mullins' classmates at the memorial service were comforting.
"He was very wonderful and carefree," she said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
