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EDMONTON - The University of Toronto has established a scholarship in the name of Robert Barrington Leigh, the mathematics student who died Aug. 13 in Edmonton's river valley.

A private memorial service for the 20-year-old was held Sunday at the Strathcona Community Centre. His family closed the service to the media.

Barrington Leigh was about to enter his fourth year at the university in both mathematics and physics.

"Robert was an exceptional student in our department," said a letter from the U of T's mathematics department, posted on a family website set up after Barrington Leigh went missing. The night he disappeared he told his family he was riding his mountain bike to watch the Edmonton folk festival.

"We got to know him quickly because he was already taking graduate courses by his second year. But we were impressed not only by his talent. Robert was an exceptional young person in every way -- always smiling and pleasant, polite, kind and helpful to his fellow students. He was very well-liked."

Barrington Leigh won several awards at the University of Toronto and in several international mathematics competitions.

In the days following his disappearance, hundreds of Edmontonians joined the family in the search. His body was found in the North Saskatchewan River on Aug. 22. Police said further details will not be released because the death was deemed non-criminal.

Donations to the scholarship fund may be sent to the Robert Barrington Leigh Scholarship Fund at:

Office of Advancement

Faculty of Arts and Science

University of Toronto

100 St. George Street, Room 2032

Toronto, Ont. M5S 3G3