11/12/2007
enlarge
Staff photo by David Leamingfrom the Kennebec Journal
FAIRPOINT PLAN TARGETS DEBT
Wind project off Mass. meets strong resistance
Three bills seek tougher rules for petitioners
New rules for special education debated
Happy apples
AUGUSTA: Cuts to French curriculum run into opposition
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: Hall-Dale drops MVC title game to Mountain Valley
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NOTEBOOK: Different stakes in Gardiner-Winslow rivalry
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
'At the time ... he was psychotic'
Man answers door, is attacked with Mace and then robbed
FairPoint reorganization plan aims to slash company's debt
Concerns over special-education changes aired
FAIRFIELD: Clinton man, 21, arrested on rape, assault charges
Stun gun, arrest of suspect end high-speed, 2-town chase
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NOTEBOOK: Gardiner, Winslow take to ice again
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Skowhegan wins KVAC A title game
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Thomas Kopp, 69, of Waterville, died Saturday.
Kopp, the senior associate dean of admissions for Colby College in Waterville, was on a camping trip with his son, Michael Kopp, of Rhode Island, and his three grandsons, ages 14, 12, and 10, Lt. Pat Dorian of the Maine Warden Service said. Dorian declined to release the children's names.
The warden service was called to Great Pond in Belgrade around noon Saturday, after receiving a call that the aluminum skiff had capsized, sending its five occupants in the water.
"Their boat became overloaded and a wave came up and literally flipped the boat over," Dorian said.
Neither Thomas nor Mike Kopp were wearing life jackets.
Thomas Kopp, an employee of the private college for nearly 30 years, started at Colby in 1978 as the assistant football coach, college spokesman Stephen Collins said. Kopp was promoted to head football coach before moving into the admissions department in 1983.
"He quickly rose through the ranks," Collins said of Kopp's time in the admissions department. Kopp had been dean for a decade.
Colby College President William Adams said the college community was "stricken" to hear the news of Kopp's death.
"He was a wonderful, solid Colby citizen," Adams said. "Tom was extraordinarily upbeat and we all understood his deep love for the college. He was a very great presence here."
Kopp had an apparent fondness for athletics. Described as being in "excellent shape for his age" by Collins, Kopp was passionate about sports, football in particular.
The Connecticut native coached football at the University of Connecticut and Dartmouth College before coming to Colby, Collins said. Kopp also worked for the Minnesota Twins organization, according to his resume.
Kopp's daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Kane Kopp, is also employed at Colby College as an environmental studies coordinator.
Collins said he believes Kopp is survived by his wife, Melinda "Mimi" Kopp, four children and several grandchildren. The family declined comment Sunday night through several spokespeople.
Deaths in gripping cold water are rare in central Maine, but they do happen, Dorian said.
"I'd guess the water was in the low 40s," Dorian said of the water temperature. "You would probably die within minutes --10 or 15 minutes at the most. You become hypothermic so quickly and you can't function."
Dorian said he wasn't sure when the last incident such as this took place but said, "I know it's been quite a long while."
Meghan V. Malloy -- 623-3811 Ext. 431
mmalloy@centralmaine.com
Reader comments
Sort by: Oldest first | Newest First
Against the law & dumb. A needless tragedy.report abuse
You must be a registered user of MaineToday.com to post a comment. Register or log in.