Madeline de Figueiredo Death, Obituary: a loving University of Chicago graduate Madeline de Figueiredo Passed Away Unexpectedly

Madeline de Figueiredo, a clever and loving University of Chicago graduate, died tragically early as a result of a hiking accident in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This terrible tragedy occurs just three years after she lost her loving husband, Elijah Norman Alperin, who died in November 2021 while traveling abroad.

Madeline and Elijah, both University of Chicago grads, had a strong friendship based on their enthusiasm for knowledge and service. Elijah, originating from San Francisco, was a multi-talented person with interests in history, economics, and languages. He devoted most of his time to assisting refugee groups and doing international activities that reflected his desire to make a difference.

Madeline, who was equally committed to her academic studies, was recognized for her warm personality and generosity. Her friends and family recall her as a vivacious person who valued her relationships and worked to inspire people around her.

On November 1, 2021, Elijah Norman Alperin, AB’19, of New York City, died in an accident while traveling abroad. He was 25 years old. Alperin was born and reared in San Francisco, where he attended Japanese bilingual elementary and secondary schools, which piqued his interest in languages and cultures. He lived in six countries and visited 36 during his lifetime.

Alperin earned a degree in history, economics, and languages from the University of Chicago. He also engaged in amateur soccer and volunteered in Chicago’s Syrian refugee community. Following graduation, he worked as a case coordinator at the Arab American Family Support Centre in New York City, won a Fulbright award to study refugee integration in Turkey, and worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Bulgaria.