Family, friends mourn death of college employee

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Family, friends and co-workers of Louis Spero of Riverhead, who died in a car crash on Sunrise Highway in Westhampton last week, filled the pews of St. Isidore’s Roman Catholic Church in Riverhead on Monday morning to say goodbye.

Mr. Spero, 60, worked at both the Southampton and Stony Brook campuses of Stony Brook University as the project manager for facilities design and construction for about eight years, according to Darren Johnson, the media relations manager for Stony Brook Southampton.

Mr. Spero was traveling between the two campuses, and driving a university-owned pickup truck, at the time of the car crash, police said. Paul Nelson, 35, of Riverhead hit the back of the pickup truck that Mr. Spero was driving, causing him to lose control and overturn in the center median.

Mr. Spero was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene, New York State Police said.

Mr. Johnson said that while Mr. Spero worked at both campuses, after Stony Brook University purchased the Southampton campus about three years ago, his work primarily focused on restoring structures at the Southampton campus.

Mr. Spero led a team of workers who restored the century-old windmill at the school, according to Mr. Johnson. He also led the renovation of Atlantic Hall, which was previously a library and is now a student service building.

“Perhaps most remarkable is the work he led in the beautifully renovated Avram Theater,” Mr. Johnson wrote in an e-mail. “It’s a masterpiece and truly transformed into a world-class performance hall.

“His presence will live on here with these beautiful restorations and renovations,” he continued.

Prior to working at Stony Brook University, Mr. Spero was employed as a union carpenter, according to one of his co-workers, Charlie McAteer of Port Jefferson Station.

Joseph DiSanti of Shirley, another one of Mr. Spero’s co-workers, described Mr. Spero as a “very good boss.”

“He hated to lay people off, but sometimes he had to lay people off,” Mr. DiSanti said.

Likewise, William Bruno of Smithtown, another of Mr. Spero’s co-workers, said his friend “always made the right decision.”

“He was always looking out for the group,” Mr. Bruno added.

Mr. Spero is survived by his wife, Linda, and daughter, Jeanine. His son, Louis, died five years ago.

Mr. Spero was buried at St. Isidore’s Cemetery in Riverhead on Monday, following a funeral mass at St. Isidore’s Roman Catholic Church on Pulaski Street. Memorials services were held over the weekend and entrusted to O.B. Davis Funeral Home in Miller Place.