Graduate student remembered for hard work, dedication to UD

By: Byron Hoskinson – Staff Writer

Family and friends of 23-year-old University of Dayton graduate engineering student David Manthey have been mourning their loss since his death Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013.

Manthey was found on a sidewalk by the county parking garage at Fifth Street and Main Street, according to an online WHIO report posted by the breaking news staff at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Police arrived on the scene around 10:45 a.m., as stated by a Dec. 18 Flyer News report.

Montgomery County Sherriff’s Major Darryl Wilson said Manthey jumped from the ninth story of the parking garage in an apparent suicide, according to the WHIO report. Wilson said the investigation would be ongoing and, because the garage is county-owned, conducted jointly by Montgomery County sheriff deputies and Dayton police.

UD President Dan Curran announced Manthey’s death to the UD community in a Dec. 18 email addressed to students, faculty, and staff. As detailed in the email, a memorial mass was held Thurs., Dec. 19 in the Immaculate Conception Chapel.

Manthey was a graduate student in the renewable and clean energy master’s program.

In a Dec. 18 email to the school of engineering, associate dean John Weber said a gathering to support the community would be held in Kettering Labs later that day.

Services for Manthey were held Sat., Dec. 28 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Manthey’s hometown, Highlands Ranch, Colo., according to his obituary in the Denver Post.

Manthey was a 2008 graduate of Littleton High School in Littleton, Colo., according to his obituary. He then enrolled in Boise State University, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2013 before pursuing a master’s degree in renewable and clean energy at UD.

Friends of Manthey remember him as an intelligent and diligent student with a passion for his studies and work.

Trey Climer, a senior mechanical engineering student who took classes with Manthey, said he was very knowledgeable and always helpful to classmates.

“He would lend a hand to anyone that needed it. If you were struggling with something, all you had to do was ask and David would help you out,” Climer said. “David was a very nice guy. He was very upbeat and always had a smile on his face.”

Sean Murphy, a second-year graduate student in the renewable and clean energy program, said Manthey had a passion for his work with and studies in clean and renewable energies.

“He was a person of integrity and hard work, and that showed in the quality of the work he performed,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he worked with Manthey at UD’s Industrial Assessment Center which is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and provides free assessments for mid-sized industries with the goal of increasing energy efficiency, according to an overview of the UD-IAC on UD’s website.

Murphy said Manthey was particularly interested in solar energy and worked on the solar panel on the west side of the RecPlex.

Climer described Manthey as “genuine” and said he was in disbelief when he learned of Manthey’s death.

“I was in shock when I heard what happened,” said Climer. “It was completely unexpected.”

Climer said he received a call from the Dayton Sheriff’s office the day of the incident inquiring about Manthey.

“They were asking if anything was going on in his life that could have been a warning sign, but there really wasn’t,” Climer said. “It was a very surreal experience.”

Students seeking support services are encouraged to utilize UD’s Counseling Center in Gosiger Hall.