Peruvian Virginia Tech victim was excellent swimmer, mother says
Posted by Wolfy Becker on April 17th, 2007
Victim of the Virgina Tech shooting, Peruvian Daniel Perez Cueva |
(JP-wb) — The mother of 21-year-old Daniel Pérez Cueva, a Peruvian student killed in yesterday’s shooting massacre at Virginia Tech, was an outstanding sportsman who excelled in swimming, his mother Betty Cueva said. He was a member of Peru’s National Swimming Federation.
“This is very difficult for me, something I cannot apprehend”, a weeping Mrs. Cueva said. “I want to think that he is alive. Together my son an I went through good and bad times in this country; my children are everything to me”, she said.
She detailed that her son went to high school at the Colegio Marista Champagnat in Surco, a district of Peru’s capital. He was very amicable, he liked to sing and to dance, but he still found the time to study and work hard, she described.
Before transferring to Virginia Tech a year ago he studied at the University of Miami. “His goal was to finish his education at Virginia Tech because the university is very prestigious within the United States. My son drew up an objective and he did everything possible to reach it”, she said in an interview with Peruvian radio station RPP Noticias.
She added that two months ago Daniel had received an invitation for a job interview from an organization in Washington D.C who were obviously impressed about his very good qualifications.
Betty Cueva indicated that she hopes to meet in the next hours with his brothers who live in the states of New York and Florida, as well as his sister who lives in Washington D.C.
She asked the authorities to arrange an an emergency visa and trip for her husband Flavio Perez, who is in Lima, so he can travel to the United States and be with her and her relatives during this very difficult time.
Daniel Pérez Cueva studied international relations and was one of the 30 victims shot to death shot inside Norris Hall while attending French language class.
- related articles -
Peruvian student among the victims in Virginia Tech massacre (by JP, Apr. 17, 2007)
-
.
- join our discussion -
Gun Grabbers? - Journal Peru forum discussion on gun control
-
April 17th, 2007 at 1:15 pm Quote
- update -
Peru’s vice-foreign minister Gonzalo Gutiérrez informed that the U.S. Embassy in Lima will grant a visa to the father.
Flavio Perez and two sisters of Betty Cueva, the mother of the young Peruvian victim, have to travel today and the U.S. ambassador to Peru, James Curtis Struble, committed himself to personally take care of the matter.
Gutiérrez said he spoke with the ambassador and he assured that he has given instructions to offer the relatives of Daniel Perez Cueva all the necessary facilitations, although he did not state what kind of visa will be issued to them.
April 17th, 2007 at 3:12 pm Quote
Re: Wolfy Becker
Mr. Becker ,my name is Shirley Limongi and I work at Telemundo here in New York. We recently did a phone interview with Daniel Cuevas uncle in Virgina but they didn’t have the capabilities to send us a picture. We wanted to know if the picture can be sent to us and please let us know if we need to courtesy and to whom.
Thank you!
If there are any questions or concerns please e-mail us at the newsdesk at wnju47@nbcuni.com
April 17th, 2007 at 3:42 pm Quote
Hi Shirley,
I just responded to you via email
April 17th, 2007 at 7:26 pm Quote
- update -
The father of Daniel, Flavio Perez, will travel to Blacksburg tomorrow, Wednesday. This was confirmed by TACA Airlines who donated the roundtrip ticket.
TACA spokesperson Ines Elejalde told El Comercio newspaper that he will be accompanied by his wife’s two sisters and the plane will take off in Lima shortly after noon or at 3 p.m. via El Salvador and then directly to Washington D.C.
Family members of Daniel Perez said they will make a decision tomorrow whether to return his body to Lima or if he should be buried in the United States.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:03 pm Quote
- update -
Daniel’s father, Flavio Pérez Parra, and two aunts, Miriam and Flor de María Cueva, will take off at 3:05 p.m. (local time) this afternoon in Lima and are headed for Dulles airport in Washington D.C. It is anticipated that they will arrive in the American capital on early Thursday morning at 1:20 a.m.
All family members received humanitarian visas from the U.S. embassy in Lima.
Doris Perez, also an aunt of Daniel, told Peruvian TV news channel “Canal N” she felt sorry for the fact that the Peruvian Government has not sent its condolences.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:42 pm Quote
Hi,my name it’s Linda Guzman,i want to know if anybody can help me to contact the Daniel’s family.
I know his sister,but i lost contact with her long time ago and this notice was a surprise for me,cause Daniel,his sister Mariella and I we used to be friends and we went to the same school.
Please if anybody can help,i really aprecciate.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:23 pm Quote
Hi Linda,
pls. check your emails. Hope I could help.
April 18th, 2007 at 5:27 pm Quote
The Roanoke Times gives us additional information and opinions on the victim Daniel Perez Cueva by those who knew him best:
link: Daniel Alejandro Perez Cueva: ‘A role model to emulate’
On a personal note:
We all here at Journal Peru would like to express our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the Perez-Cueva family and all other victim’s families, friends and fellow students at VTech.
May you all find the strength to somehow overcome this tragedy and immense loss.
Peruvian saludos
Wolfy Becker and the Journal Peru team.
April 18th, 2007 at 6:04 pm Quote
POR MUCHO TIEMPO HE CONOCIDO A MUCHOS ESTUDIANTES DEL PERU, LA MAYORIA VENIAN A LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS PARA TENER MEJOR VIDA Y ESTUDIAR.JAMAS ENCONTRE QUE NINGUNO ERA UN PROBLEMA, POR LO CONTRARIO VENIA DEL PERU MUY BIEN PREPARADOS, ATENTOS Y AMABLES. ERAN MUCHOS MUY INTELIGENTES Y SIN SABER INGLES CURSABAN MATERIAS MUY AVANZADAS.
AUNQUE NO CONOZCO A LA FAMILIA ENVIO MIS ORACIONES PARA QUE DIOS LES DE FUERZA PARA SOPORTAR TAL TRAGEDIA Y A LOS ESTUDIANTES Y CIUDADANOS PERUANOS RADICADOS EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS MI MAS SENTIDO PESAME POR LO OCURRIDO
EL LUNES. QUE DIOS BENDIGA A LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS Y TODOS LOS PERUANOS. DR. RAUL A. FUERTES
April 19th, 2007 at 6:44 am Quote
I had the privilege of meeting Daniel at a conference in Atlanta on student activism on behalf of the victims in Darfur, Sudan in February. His mere presence, and also the presence of fellow VT victim Austin Cloyd, shows what kind of people they were. They cared about peace and security for people on the other side of the world, and students like them display the best of the American heart.
They did not HAVE to work for Darfur, or any other cause, but CHOSE to, and that speaks volumes about their life and legacy.
I have resolved to fight three times as hard on this issue to insure that the work they were trying to do will not go undone.
May only peace come from their legacy.
With Sorrow and Love for his grieving friends and family,
Katrina Field, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA
April 19th, 2007 at 8:55 am Quote
I want to express my deep condolences for the family of Daniel Perez Cueva, a student at Virgina Tech here in the states and in Peru.
Words cannot express how saddened i am because i am also a student as well.
I am studying Public Relations and Broadcast Communication away from my native San Diego, California and i understand how difficult it might be to have family concerned about a loved one because of the distance. My mother is from Peru and i definently understand how the pain is so strong right now when families try to give everything there is coming from a Latin American country ( Peru) to the United States to provide education and prosperity for the future.
This is what my Mother’s side of the family has always pushed and instilled in me so hard to even imagine the pain!
Yesterday evening, my school held a prayer-vigil at
Barry University in Miami, Florida to remember the students and faculty whom were killed this past Monday.
I want to give student support here on my behalf from Barry University.
God Bless!
Sincerely,
Carmen
April 19th, 2007 at 10:47 am Quote
Tuve el privilegio de trabajar con Flavio, el padre de Daniel, y siempre expreso su amor y dolor por estar separado de su familia por tanto tiempo y lo que mas deseaba era estar cerca de ellos. Su hijo Daniel con su muerte hizo posible el sueño de su padre, a un precio muy alto tal vez. No existe manera ni palabras para expresar mis condolencias o poder aliviar el dolor de esta familia.
I had the privilege to work with Daniel Perez’s father who always expressed his love for his family and a profound sorrow for being away from his family, he only wanted to be with his family again. This one of his biggest dreams.
Daniel, with his death, made his father’s dream come true, at the highest price…. perhaps. God has his own ways.
I can not find the words to express my sorrow to his family and to relieve their pain and sorrow,
April 19th, 2007 at 2:16 pm Quote
thank you all soooo much for your comments. I am sure the family of Daniel will read and acknowledge them.
- update -
well, most of us have seen or read about the shooter’s “media package” he sent to NBC, apparently between the first and second killings. So I am not going into that. Other news today are also very significant and a positive gesture:
Myself, and I am sure all victims, would have most certainly preferred they get that degree with their own work, talents and dedication. Sadly enough, this will not happen, so doing it posthumously may soothe some of the pain.
April 19th, 2007 at 3:09 pm Quote
My deepest sympathy to Daniel Perez”’s family, I didn’t have the chance to meet him, although I used to live in woodbridge for a long time. I’m peruvian too. and I’d like to express my sorrow and to give a hug to Betty Cueva, Daniel’s mother.God bless you all and Daniel whereever you are….PERU ESTA CONTIGO!!!…
Pd>>I’d like to know home phone number or addres to send something to them, if somebody could give me more information, I’d appreciate. thanks.
April 19th, 2007 at 9:52 pm Quote
MY CONDOLENCES TO A PERUVIAN BROTHER
JOSE CHANAME
April 20th, 2007 at 12:58 pm Quote
MY CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO DANIEL AND ALL THE OTHERS LOST IN THIS TRAGEDY. WHERE WILL DANIELS FUNERAL BE HELD.
LOU BARTA,
April 20th, 2007 at 1:21 pm Quote
- update -
The family of Daniel Perez Cueva expressed their deepest gratitude for the worldwide expressions of affection they have received by phone calls, emails, letters and through the media.
In an official note given to CNN on Thursday, Daniel’s family asked to respect their privacy during this time of grief and solicited the media not to ask for additional interviews.
The family also expressed their hopes that a tragedy similar to this one will never happen again.
CNN has a put up a video about Daniel on its website called “Family recalls ambitious son”:
Family recalls ambitious son
April 20th, 2007 at 2:01 pm Quote
My condolences to the Perez family. Unfortunately, I didn’t know Daniel but it hurts to know that someone with a bright future had to leave us. I know he is in a better place now. My parents are from Peru and when I found out about Daniel it felt that i lost someone close to me. I know that he was proud of his culture and I could relate to that. Me and some friends would like to send a card to the Perez family if anyone could provide us with an email or an address it would be appreciated.
April 21st, 2007 at 12:47 am Quote
rip daniel …i didnt know DANIEL…my condolences to DANIEL’s family .DANIEL is in a better place now…well im peruvian and it just hurts so much that a young peruvian kid just died …i would like to know if there is a way i can get in touch with DANIEL’S FAMILY …thanks RIP DANIEL I’LL SEE YOU IN OUR LORDS KINGDOM
April 22nd, 2007 at 4:57 pm Quote
Mis condolencias a la familia Perez-Cueva, por la péridida de Daniel, un joven peruano que deja un gran vacío y que fue y seguirá siendo un orgullo para sus padres y el pueblo peruano, que Dios lo tenga en sus manos y que su familia tenga mucha paz y resignación por esa pérdida.
Juany
April 22nd, 2007 at 11:18 pm Quote
I am a Va Tech alumni and travel once or twice a year for business to Peru. I also live in the Blacksburg area. This has been a very emotional week for me seeing the events unfold in Blacksburg while I travel in Central America. I will be traveling to Peru in July and would like to know how I can contact the family in Peru and also initiate a memorial scholarship fund for future Peruvian students to Va Tech. Thank you for any information! Go Hokies!
February 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am Quote
My name is Gloria Gibaja and I study at Saint Thomas University in Miami, Florida.I have recently being assigned a research paper, the topic of it is to write about someone who has died in a violent event to honor them and to share with others their experiences and goals.I wanted to do my research on Daniel Pérez Cueva, since he was a compatriota to me due that I’m Peruvian.I would like to know if I could gather any information from friends and family members in order for me to write this research which I’ll be honor to do about Daniel.Please let me know if I need to courtesy and to whom.
Thank You
If there are any questions or concerns please e-mail me.