In memoriam
Services set Nov. 19 for Peter DiSabatino
6:38 p.m., Nov. 16, 2012--Services will be held Monday, Nov. 19, for G. Peter Michael DiSabatino, the University of Delaware student who died Nov. 12.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Nov. 19, at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 3135 Summit Bridge Rd., Bear, Del. Services will begin at 7 p.m., with the Rev. Paul Owens officiating.
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"Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. DiSabatino's family, friends, fellow students and professors at the University," Dawn Thompson, dean of students and associate vice president for student life, said.
Mr. DiSabatino was a sophomore in the University's Associate in Arts Program in Wilmington.
Alan Horowitz, associate professor of sociology, recalled him "as an active and engaged member of our student body at the Academic Center" and said, "As a student in my 'Introduction to Sociology' course, he more than exceeded my expectation for course members. I spoke with him only once after class, and it was about how he might understand the course concepts even more thoroughly. He was very well thought of by his classmates, particularly the second-year students who had three semesters to get to know him."
Tami Lunsford, who teaches biology in the Associate in Arts Program, said, "Peter was one of my best and favorite students. He earned a B+ on my first exam and wasn't happy with it. So he worked so hard, came and asked questions and really put a lot of effort into the second exam and earned a 100 percent, which is almost unheard of on my exams.
"He was smart, hard-working, dedicated, and funny. He was such a lively presence in the classroom -- making jokes when appropriate, asking questions frequently, and showing how much he cared about his education. He was one of the students I could (and did) joke with during a lecture to lighten the mood because other students liked and respected him. He was a true pleasure to teach -- the type of student every professor wants to have in their class.
"He had a bright future ahead of him, and we are devastated by his loss," she said. "We feel for his family and are trying to be there for his friends as much as we can in this horrible time."
Students are encouraged to contact the Center for Counseling and Student Development at 302-831-2141 for any needed support and assistance during this time.
Mr. DiSabatino, 20, graduated from Appoquinimink High School in Middletown, Del. He had worked at Ruby Tuesday's Restaurant in Elkton, Md., and at the Mediterranian Grill in Newark, as well as at his family's business, Kimo's Shave Ice. He was a member of Cornerstone United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his father, Thomas DiSabatino of Dover; his mother, Angela Minner DiSabatino, and her fiancé, Michael Herman, of Bear; his sisters Natalie and Caroline of Bear; his grandmother, Anne T. Minner; his aunt, Karen Heyd; his cousin, Kate Sears, and her husband, Dane, and children, Logan and Ethan; his cousins Molly and Steven Heyd; his uncle, Michael DiSabatino, wife, Shelley, and cousins, Eric and Douglas; his aunt, Christina Marconi, and Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Woody Chambers. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, William Minner. and grandparents. Peter DiSabatino and Iona Marconi.
The family requests that memorial contributions in Mr. DiSabatino's memory may be made to the G. Peter Michael DiSabatino Memorial Fund, in care of Wells Fargo Bank, 240 Glasgow Ave., Newark, DE 19702, for a scholarship to be dedicated in his name.
Condolences may be left online at www.daniels-hutchison.com.