The University of Scranton mourns the loss of a distinguished alumnus and civic leader whose death happened the very same night he was honored by his alma mater.
David J. Wenzel ’69, G’74, a decorated military veteran and public servant, died the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center. He was 80.
A Scranton native who lost both legs and an arm while serving with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Wenzel returned home and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Scranton. He then dedicated his life to public service, most notably from 1986-90 as the 27th Mayor of Scranton. After leaving office, Wenzel continued working as a pioneering disability rights advocate.
The University’s Center for Ethics and Excellence in Public Service (CEEPS) had long planned to showcase memorabilia from Wenzel’s remarkable career at an exhibit at the Weinberg Memorial Library. “A Life of Service: Celebrating David J. Wenzel,” opened earlier in the evening of Nov. 5. It was attended by numerous local and University officials, as well as Wenzel’s friends and family, including his wife, Janet, who accepted the inaugural CEEPS Public Service Award on his behalf. Going forward, the award will be renamed in Wenzel’s honor.
“David was a happy warrior,” said Wenzel’s friend, Joe Riccardo. “He kept that wonderful smile and twinkle in his eye, but he fought. He fought for his country in Vietnam. He fought for our community, both as Mayor and as an active citizen. Boy, he fought all his life to maintain his dignity; it wasn’t always easy as a triple amputee, but David was not going to allow any disability to get in his way to prevent him from achieving his goals.”