Professor Liviu Librescu

Liviu Librescu, 75, a senior researcher and lecturer in engineering, was a Holocaust survivor. He had immigrated to Israel from Romania with his wife Marlina, also a survivor, in 1978. He was an expert in aeronautics at Tel Aviv University and the Haifa Technion before moving to the United States in 1984.

The couple's elder son, Arieh, lives in the town of Ra'anana, near Tel Aviv. Joe, the younger son, splits his time between the United States and Israel, where he was when news of his father's death arrived.

According to media accounts quoting students, Mr. Librescu and the class heard shooting in a nearby room. The students said their professor blocked the door to prevent the gunman from entering while some students took cover underneath desks and others leaped out from windows.

Reached by telephone in Ra'anana today, Ayala Librescu, one of his daughters-in-law, said the family "had no time to deal with the loss" and turned down requests for interviews. She confirmed that family members were making plans to fly to America Tuesday night and that they would be bringing Mr. Librescu's body back to Israel for burial.

Earlier today, Joe Librescu told Ynet, the website of the Hebrew daily Yediot Aharonot: "I understand from friends that my father was a hero. By blocking the door with his body he saved all the students who were in the classroom." Joe Librescu studied at Virginia Tech from 1989 to 1994, according to Israeli media reports.