Hundreds in Boston Mourn Slain Japanese College Chief

About 500 people, including several state and local officials, paid their final respects Friday to a Japanese university president who was shot and killed in his Boston hotel room.

Gov. William F. Weld, Mayor Raymond L. Flynn and other officials were among those attending the memorial service for Iwao Matsuda, 72, at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

Matsuda, who was killed Tuesday, was in Boston to establish formal relations between Chukyo University of Nagoya and the Massachusetts school.

Matsuda’s wife, Akiko, and his two sons were at the service, where the victim was remembered as a powerful teacher and a leader.

“I hope from the great sorrow that affects us all, those of us here who knew President Matsuda and those who respected his work, can gather the strength to carry on his mission, to embellish his memory by pursuing those goals he so actively sought for his university, for his students and for his country,” Chancellor Sherry Penney said.

Matsuda, a prominent international sports psychologist, was shot in the back by an assailant who burst into his room. Police said they have no suspects in the killing, but are looking for a man described by Matsuda’s wife, who was the only witness.