Update: Pat Donohue was confirmed dead after he jumped off the George Washington Bridge, according to the Times of Trenton.
The College received tragic news this morning as Patrick Donohue, retired assistant provost for community engaged learning, was reported missing and is presumed to be dead, family told The Times of Trenton.
The Times is reporting that Donohue went missing on Tuesday, July 7 and is speculated to be dead after his car was found near the George Washington Bridge on Friday, July 10.
Donohue, 50, worked at the College for nine years and was responsible for the TCNJ Bonner Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, the Institute for Prison Teaching and Outreach and TCNJ TrentonWorks, according an email sent out in May from Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jacqueline Taylor, announcing Donohue’s retirement.
“This is heartbreaking news,” Gitenstein said in a public statement on Friday morning. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Pat had been a passionate advocate for one of TCNJ’s signature experiences, community engaged learning. This will be very difficult for the many students, staff and faculty who worked closely with him and held him in such high regard.”
Donohue was described as a “passionate advocate for one of our signature experiences – community engaged learning,” Taylor wrote in the May email.
According to Taylor’s email, the Bonner program increased from 24 to 101 students and the number of First Seminar Program community engaged learning sections grew to over 40, while under Donohue’s leadership.
The Times article detailed that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police said a witness reportedly saw a man jump from the George Washington Bridge at about 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, however a body has not yet been recovered from the river.
The Times later reported that the witness confirmed to police that a photo of Donohue matched the man seen jumping from the George Washington Bridge.
“As a caring community, we must support one another in this very difficult time,” Gitenstein said in the email. “Please remember that the college has extensive resources available for anyone in need of support.”
Gitenstein encouraged all those needing assistance during this time to contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 609-771-2247.
[The Times of Trenton]
