DiLorenzo was with his wife, Suzanne Austin, the new appointed dean of the College of Charleston, at approximately 6:15 am, when two men armed with a gun demanded money from the couple in downtown Charleston.
DiLorenzo was shot during the attempted robbery and was taken to a local hospital, where he died, according to a police report. Austin was not injured.
The investigation is ongoing.
On Friday night, Charleston police announced the arrest of two young men. The suspects, aged 15 to 16, were charged with murder and attempted armed robbery. One is also accused of carrying a deadly weapon while committing a violent crime.
The news, which broke out around noon on Friday, sent shock waves through UND and the Greater Grand Forks community. The incident became national news, with at least one national network reporting it during a 5:30 pm newscast.
DiLorenzo, 63, retired as dean of the UND on June 1, after seven years of university.
His death came six weeks after he retired from UND and a few weeks after he and his wife moved to Charleston.
Joshua Wynne, former UND president and dean of the medical school, recalled DiLorenzo for his hardworking nature and commitment to UND.
“Earning your retirement and six weeks later leaving is incredibly sad,” said Wynne. “I’m sure he was working until the minute he walked out the door and locked it.”
“He cared deeply about the UND,” said Debbie Storrs, UND’s acting dean. “He encouraged us to think differently, to look ahead and imagine a better university. He was committed to equality and hired many women for leadership positions ”.
Storrs said that “DiLorenzo’s new adventure ended abruptly”.
“It is difficult to put sadness into words, especially in the world we live in today,” she said. “He will be missed. His impression of UND is felt and we will continue to think about the future.”
Former Dean of UND, Tom DiLorenzo. (Photo provided by UND)
Gracie Lian, a former student body president, said she was in shock on Friday after hearing the news.
“He was always so warm and welcoming and ready to hear the student’s voice, which I think is very important,” said Lian, talking about his time interacting with DiLorenzo. “He really cared about the students’ opinions about things.”
Lian said she was especially impressed by DiLorenzo’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was ending his final months at UND. She said he always sought out student leaders to make sure they were comfortable with the plans.
“Tom worked tirelessly to help the UND better,” Matthew Ternus, president of the UND student body, told the Herald.
He said that DiLorenzo was “always a caring person” who was “ready to listen”.
“Tom was a servant leader during his time at UND,” he said.
DiLorenzo served under Presidents Robert Kelley and Mark Kennedy during his time at UND. He also served under interim presidents Ed Schafer and Wynne.
He arrived at UND in 2013 and worked to promote and lead initiatives to increase student retention and improve graduation rates. He was a central figure in the development of the UND’s strategic plan.
Former UND rector Thomas DiLorenzo is portrayed in this 2016 archive photo. Jesse Trelstad / Grand Forks Herald
When his retirement was announced in February, he was praised for his work with the UND budget and the university’s expertise.
“With his superhuman work ethic, Tom gave his heart and soul to the university until his last day at UND,” said UND president Andrew Armacost, who took over as president in June. “He led the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He initiated programs that strengthened ties between UND and the Grand Forks community. And to improve the academic experience of UND students, he implemented programs that resulted in better graduation and retention rates. Tom did everything he was asked and more. It was the kind of person he was. “
During his time as interim president, Wynne effectively held three jobs: interim president, dean of medical school and vice president of health affairs. Wynne said that DiLorenzo made these jobs a little easier.
“I think it is a true statement to say that I would not have been able to do all three jobs had it not been for Provost DiLorenzo’s excellent efforts,” said Wynne. “He worked hard, he was very honest and he tried to do the right thing”.
Reactions
University of North Dakota System Dean Mark Hagerott said DiLorenzo was killed in an “act of senseless violence”. He said DiLorenzo was an important leader at UND.
“He was a source of stability for the UND,” he said. “He was also an intellectual leader in North Dakota by pioneering new programs in robotics, cyber science and digital analysis.”
Hagerott met DiLorenzo when Hagerott was serving at the US Naval Academy Cyber Center, and said DiLorenzo was the first academic leader who encouraged him to return to North Dakota to serve in the university system.
Former UND President Mark Kennedy also expressed sadness on Friday.
“Tom cared,” Kennedy said in a statement. “He cared about his family. He was concerned with fulfilling the mission of higher education to open opportunities for students and the community. “
DiLorenzo “defended innovations” that led to greater access to higher education for students, said Kennedy.
“It was never about him, it was about the students, the faculty, the university,” he said. “The world is a better place because Tom lived.”
Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski said the news of DiLorenzo’s death “came as a big shock to our community”. Bochenski said he and his wife, Jenny, are praying for DiLorenzo’s family and friends, “as well as for the many in Grand Forks who were lucky to have met him.”
“Because of Dr. DiLorenzo’s dedication and the bonds he has created, the path has been paved for a bright and prosperous future on campus and with UND partners,” said Bochenski. “Our community could not have been more blessed to have such a strong advocate and leader.”
Grand Forks city administrator Todd Feland said he had the “honor and privilege” to work closely with DiLorenzo on a handful of strategic projects “that are now trademarks of the Grand Forks Town and Gown relationship”
Feland pointed out the internship program between the city and the university, research partnerships, the Coulee to Columbia infrastructure project and the Main Street GF Challenge as examples of these projects. These projects would not have happened without DiLorenzo’s “work ethic, attitude of greater well-being and the ability to work effectively with community stakeholders”, said Feland.
“He was a driving force in this community and that news hurts on a personal level,” said Feland.
In a statement, College of Charleston President Andrew Hsu said that DiLorenzo and his wife moved to Charleston just a few weeks ago.
“Tom was celebrated not only for his collaborative leadership style, but also for his belief in experiential learning and how the city of Grand Forks served as an extension of the UND classroom,” wrote Hsu. “In time, Tom would have seen parallels to that dynamic here in Charleston as well.”