It was Stephen Pitcairn's 24th birthday Tuesday, and his friends marked the occasion with cake and flowers.
On the Charles Village block where the young John Hopkins researcher was killed Sunday night, his friends and fellow lab workers built a makeshift memorial honoring his memory.
Pictures of Pitcairn, wearing his signature grin, were bound to a tree with red ribbons in the 2600 block of St. Paul St. At its roots rested chocolate cake, red licorice whips and three oysters on the half shell — each with a dollop of cocktail sauce. A bouquet of red roses lay on one side and white carnations on the other.
"Oh the humanity," someone wrote on one of the posters bearing his picture.
Notes written in a birthday card described Pitcairn as a "precious friend" — a kind man, who was always smiling, led by example and liked to hang out at Paper Moon Diner. Some conveyed what appeared to be private jokes.
"You were a great co-worker and friend. I hope you are in heaven with 70 Asian virgins," read an inscription signed Maimon.
"You made a wonderful impact on the lab, I will work hard to get something positive out of this tragedy," wrote Danielle.
Georgette Dorsey, who lives in the block where Pitcairn was killed, dropped by the site with Greg Hardy.
"He was a nice guy," Dorsey said. "I rode the bus with him a couple times."
John Behle, a Baltimore County insurance consultant, stopped at the site to pay his respects — "to be human," he said.
"We can relate to this man," Behle said, reaching out to touch a photo. "He was just a shining star."