Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan

Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan, a Ph.D. student in civil engineering, may have been quiet and reserved, but was never afraid to stand up for what he believed regarding Indonesian politics.

He was originally from Indonesia, where his mother and father still live.

Curt Nuenighoff, a friend from Blacksburg, always enjoyed talking with Lumbantoruan, or Mora, as most people knew him. “I know a lot of people describe Mora as a shy person … but I always found him really engaged and a great conversationalist,” said Nuenighoff.

Chang Jo, a Virginia Tech graduate student, recalled seeing Mora in the library the Saturday prior to the tragedy. “He was working in the library as an assistant.”

Jo always found that “his smile is really peaceful, he always smiled at people.”

Very often Jo would see Mora shopping at the Oasis World Market.

Mora was quite the chef during the international street fair. Rhondy Rahardja, an industrial and systems engineer, said that Mora was the “grill master” when the Indonesian Student Association (ISA) were providing the Indonesian specialty called Satee.

“He did all the cooking, that’s why it tastes great,” Rahardja said.

This year Rahardja said that the ISA was more organized during the street fair and both he and Mora were able to enjoy watching the belly dancers, who were a part of the show.

Eileen Hitching-ham, dean of the library, was able to recollect the many times she saw Mora working in the library.

While at the library, Mora could be seen shelving, studying or reading for his own delight. “He liked to learn about the Indonesian culture,” Hitchingham said.

For Hitchingham, a memory which truly captured Mora’s good nature was a photo of him at a baseball game. “He is just laughing in a sea of orange,” Hitchingham said.

Pupung Purnawa-rman, a Tech graduate student, had known Mora for three years. “To me Mora is one of the nicest friends I have ever met,” Purnawar-man said.

Purnawarman would always see Mora in the library as well. He remarked how no matter what Mora was doing, he would always be the first to say “Hi!” when he came into the library. Mora was “very caring and attentive to everyone,” Purnawarman said.

Purnawarman recalled when they were picking up Mora’s belongings out of his room, he said he remembered how neat and orderly everything was, especially his socks.

Purnawarman also said how Mora had a love for military movies because of his background. Mora’s mother, Soegiarti Lumbantoruan, and father, Tohom Lumbantoruan, were both in the military in Indonesia.

Purnawarman also emphasized how humble Mora was.

When they jokingly asserted that Mora should be president of the ISA in conversation, Mora kindly stated that there would be someone better than himself for the job.

Rahardja can still picture Mora wearing his khaki pants, polo shirt tucked in and a maroon hat. He can still hear Mora talking about the Indonesian cabinet and his love for politics.
 
“I talked to him a lot about politics, but yet I never won,” said Rahardja with a grin on his face.

The serious face captivated many with his humility, political fervor, and good nature.

“He was loved and he was known and we will miss him,” Hitchingham said.