University president passes away
By Cassidey Kavathas, News Editor On the morning of March 1, the St. Bonaventure university campus paused as the news of President Dr. Dennis Deperro’s passing sat in everyone’s email inbox. “I was sitting at my desk this morning when the news came from Dr. Zimmer and it was one of those days where I had just felt that something was off from the moment I woke up,” said Dean Whitcomb, the assistant director of admissions at the university. “I was in shock and deeply saddened to read the words on my screen.” The news that the 21st president passed away after his battle with COVID-19 was delivered at 9:17 a.m. as students and faculty prepared for classes and work. DePerro was first admitted to a Syracuse hospital Dec. 29 after testing positive for COVID-19 on Christmas Eve. He was placed on a ventilator midJanuary. DePerro died at 4:30 a.m. on March 1, at the age of 62.
Dennis R. DePerro
St. Bonaventure University is mourning the loss of President Dennis R. DePerro, who died Monday due to complications with COVID-19. He was 62.
“Words simply can’t convey the level of devastation our campus community feels right now,” said Dr. Joseph Zimmer, provost and vice president for academic affairs, who was named acting president late last month while Dr. DePerro was in recovery. “I know when people die it’s become cliche to say things like, ‘He was a great leader, but an even better human being,’ and yet, that’s the absolute truth with Dennis. We are heartbroken.”
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