Almir Olimpio Alves was 43 when he was killed in the mass shooting at the American Civic Association in Binghamton, New York, on the morning of April 3, 2009. A mathematics professor from Brazil and a visiting scholar connected to Binghamton University, he had been attending an English class at the immigrant and refugee support center to improve his spoken English and better connect with the local community.

The shooter, identified as Jiverly Antares Wong, arrived about 10:30 a.m., blocked the rear exit with a vehicle, entered wearing a bullet-resistant vest and carrying two handguns, and opened fire into the classroom. Officials said Wong fired roughly a hundred rounds over about three minutes and then killed himself inside the building. Investigators treated him as a lone attacker and worked to identify victims and reconstruct the timeline. Alves was remembered in published tributes as an easygoing, popular professor who had sought English instruction to participate more fully in his new community.

Does anyone have memories of Almir Alves or information about his time in Binghamton to share?