Former Jeannette man killed during S.C. robbery attempt

A Jeannette native was killed during an attempted robbery this month in Charleston, S.C.

Thomas DiLorenzo, 63, was fatally shot Friday by two teenagers, ages 15 and 16, who demanded money as he and his wife walked downtown, the Post and Courier reported.

Police called the shooting an “anomaly” that is not typical of Charleston, the newspaper reported. DiLorenzo and his wife just moved to the area a couple of weeks earlier. The teenagers’ names have not been released. Police said they were charged with murder and attempted armed robbery.

DiLorenzo, born in Greensburg, was valedictorian of the Class of 1974 at Jeannette City High School, according to his obituary. Jeannette school director Mark Gogolsky, who was a classmate of DiLorenzo’s, extended his sympathy to family members.

“What I remember, he was just a happy-go-lucky guy,” Gogolsky said. “Down to earth.”

DiLorenzo graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees and economics and psychology, later earning a doctorate in clinical psychology at West Virginia University.

He spent his career working at colleges in Missouri, Delaware, Alabama and North Dakota, according to the obituary. He retired June 1 after seven years as provost and senior vice president, according to the University of North Dakota.

His wife, Suzanne Austin, recently was appointed provost and executive vice president of college affairs at the College of Charleston.

The University of North Dakota’s Alumni Association and Foundation started a memorial fund in DiLorenzo’s honor this week, according to the Grand Forks Herald. Donations can be made at undalumni.org/tomdilorenzo.

DiLorenzo is survived by his wife, her daughter, his daughter and son, three grandchildren, two brothers and two stepbrothers.