The memorial service honoring David LeClair ’11 will be streamed live here beginning at 4:00pm today.
Update regarding David LeClair Memorial Service:
The entire Bentley community is mourning the loss of David LeClair ’11, who recently passed away in a tragic biking accident. A memorial service to honor and celebrate David’s life will be held on campus on Wednesday, June 19, at 4:00 p.m. in the Executive Dining Room of the LaCava Center, with a light reception to follow in the tent outside the building. Given the extensive personal and professional relationships David cultivated at Bentley and in the local area, the LeClair family has decided this will be the primary memorial ceremony for family and guests.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks that contributions in memory of David be made to Bentley University.
If you have any questions, please contact the Spiritual Life Center team at ga_spiritual_life@bentley.edu.
June 15, 2013
Message from President Gloria Cordes Larson and Vice President for Student Affairs Andrew Shepardson regarding David LeClair:
To the Bentley Community:
It is with great sadness that we write again regarding the death of a member of our community. David LeClair, a May 2011 graduate, was killed while participating in the American Lung Association's Trek Across Maine 180-mile bike tour. David was part of a group from his employer, Athena Health Care, participating in the fundraiser. David graduated from Bentley magna cum laude with a BS in Management and an LSM in Earth, Environment and Global Sustainability. His capstone project was Public Support for Cape Wind: A focus on the generation gap.
David made a significant impact on our community in the four years he was at Bentley, beginning with academics as a trustee scholar and a member of the honors program. Outside the classroom, David played many roles across campus, from an admissions ambassador to freshman seminar facilitator to student diversity council member. He held multiple e-board and member positions in many student organizations, including PRIDE and the Green Society. David had the ability to transcend boundaries and establish effective communication, respect, and openness among a diverse array of students, faculty, and staff on issues that affect our entire community and create positive action out of it.
Our deepest sympathies go out to David’s family, friends, classmates and professors. The LeClair family has deep connections with Bentley. David’s sister Olivia is a rising senior and outstanding student and leader in her own right. David’s parents graduated from Bentley as well.
Information on memorial services will shared as they become available.
At the bottom of this email please find information for students and others who are struggling with the loss and how to support their friends.
David’s sister interviewed her brother two years ago for a story featured on the Her Campus Bentley website. We felt that this quote would give comfort to the members of the community who worked with David. For students who may not have met David, it might serve as an inspiration for their remaining time at Bentley. In a response to Olivia’s questions on his Bentley experience David said:
My leadership positions also served as great proving ground for me to learn how to effectively contribute in teams. We're not as bold to experiment when grades are on the line, but in student organizations, you have nothing to lose when you speak up and let your voice be heard - it's critical to learn the best ways to approach others with your ideas. Similarly, while classes are a more controlled environment (with a syllabus, a start and end date, and a roster), student organizations are much more fluid, and having experience with leadership positions on campus prepared me to adapt quickly to the ever-changing environment of my current company, and the "real world" as a whole
I regret not getting to know more of my professors during all four years at Bentley, because there was much more for me to learn from them outside of the classroom. Faculty and staff can be your friends, and you should never assume that they think less of you because you're an undergrad - they all started there. I think as Bentley students, we obsess over the concept of "networking" so much that we forget our professors (not all, but most) are people too, useful for much more than just lecturing and writing letters of recommendation. Professors tend to like it when students go to their office hours to talk and learn more about them. It's great to get involved on campus, to get the best internship with the Big-4, and to land an amazing job, but if you have no mentors to share your experiences with, who cares? The friendships I did make with faculty and staff are some of my most fulfilling takeaways after graduation.
We know that our Bentley community will join together during this difficult time and support each other.
Sincerely,
Gloria and Andrew
Counseling and Student Development
Contact: Dr. Roger Danchise, Director of Counseling & Associate Dean of Students (781-891-2274) Monday – Thursday | 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (or by appointment)
Spiritual Life
Contact: Maria DiLorenzo, Director of Spiritual Life (781-891-2435) Sacred Space (Student Center 335) is available for prayer and student gatherings (Monday – Thursday | 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.) Staff chaplains are available by email (Maria can serve as the initial contact)
Center for Health and Wellness
Contact: Gerri Taylor, Director of Health and Wellness & Associate Dean of Students (781-891-2222) Monday – Thursday | 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (or by appointment)
As always, please feel free to contact other members of the Division of Student Affairs (Residential Center, Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, Athletics, etc.) and University staff for support.