Director of Facilities Management David D'Angelo was killed in a motorcycle accident on Saturday. He was 45.
D'Angelo was on his way home from a meeting at Bowdoin Saturday morning when his motorcycle swerved into oncoming traffic on Route 128 in Woolwich, colliding with a pick-up truck. Although he was reportedly wearing a helmet, the head-on collision left D'Angelo dead upon impact.
News of D'Angelo's death came as a shock to members of the Bowdoin community. In an all-campus e-mail, President Barry Mills described D'Angelo as "a hard-working professional and a friendly face on the Bowdoin campus."
"He loved the campus, loved the buildings, and was very dedicated to the college community," said Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration & Treasurer Catherine Longley, who worked closely with D'Angelo for about a year and a half. "He was amiable, jolly, always had a smile on his face, always thought of the glass half-full, not half empty?those are the terms people used to describe him."
"That morning, he was attending a Trustees meeting where the Trustees had just approved the revised plans for the Walker Art Building, a project he was very closely involved with and excited about," Longley said. "It's reassuring that he left the meeting on a positive note."
D'Angelo had been recognized the previous evening at the dedication of Kanbar Hall.
"Both the renovation of the Chapel and the construction of Kanbar Hall were completed on time and under budget under his leadership," said Longley, "and he was very pleased with the results of both."
D'Angelo, a resident of Readfield and a graduate of the Wentworth Institute of Technology, is survived by his wife Alicia and his three children.
He joined Bowdoin as Assistant Director of Planning and Construction in 1995, and in January 2002, he accepted the position of Associate Director of Facilities and Director of Maintenance and Construction. That September, he was promoted to Director of Facilities Management, where he oversaw 119 employees.
Longley said D'Angelo was well-liked by his staff, and that while the members of Facilities Management are having a tough time dealing with his loss, they are "very involved in planning a memorial for him, which is commendable and is something that Dave would be proud of."
Many employees close to D'Angelo were still mourning and were unable to speak to the media this week. Visiting hours held Wednesday and Thursday at Robert's Funeral Home in Winthrop were well-attended by staff, friends, and family, Longley said.
A funeral service will take place today at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, followed by a private burial.
In addition, the Bowdoin Chapel will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today for members of the Bowdoin community who would like a quiet place for reflection. Memorial contributions may be sent to the D'Angelo Family Fund, c/o Winthrop Area Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 55, Winthrop, ME 04364.
The College will hold a public memorial service in the Chapel on Monday, November 8 at 2:00 p.m. for members of the College and Brunswick communities.