ROTC Cadet Commander Brian N. Delaplane died suddenly on October 9 on the St. John’s Queens campus.

According to his obituary in the Colorado Springs Gazette, Delaplane died as a result of a pulmonary embolism.

“Our whole family here at St. John’s mourns his loss,” said Steven Papamarcos, dean of the Peter J. Tobin College of Business.

Born on May 6, 1960 in Glenwood Springs, Colo., Delaplane received his Masters Degree from St. Bonaventure.

Delaplane served for 23 years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

“I thought he was a superlative teacher, a great citizen and a great friend,” Papamarcos said.

According to Vice President of Public Safety Tom Lawrence, Delaplane was employed at St. John’s since June.

“He was scheduled to teach a leadership class at Tobin for the upcoming semester,” Papamarcos said.

The death of Delaplane comes on the heels of another shocking death in the ROTC Department two years ago. On October 31, 2005, Captain Edward Palmer collapsed on Union Turnpike after a three-mile run. Palmer was 37-years-old.

“[The death of Delaplane] was pretty devastating because he was a good guy,” said freshman Nick Lancetta, who is currently enrolled in the ROTC.
“He was an outgoing person and it was really a shock because he was so young.”