Epsom teacher hurt in double fatal accident

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:51:00 GMT

A head-on crash has killed a Concord couple that was reportedly active in the fight against AIDS and seriously injured an Epsom school teacher.

Police say a pickup truck traveling southbound on Route 3A crossed the center line near Hidden Ranch Drive and slammed into a sport utility vehicle on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at about 12:15 p.m.

The truck driver and his wife, Sherman Ordway, 64, and Bridget Ordway, 50, of Concord, were both killed. The SUV driver was identified as Cynthia Damelio, 50, of Concord, who teaches third grade at the Epsom Central School. Damelio’s dog was rescued from her vehicle by firefighters.

Police say Sherman Ordway likely suffered a medical episode during the accident.

A doctor was traveling in the vehicle behind the Ordways and told police Ordway slumped over the wheel before his car veered into oncoming traffic.

Patrick Connors, principal of the Epsom Central School, says Damelio has taught at the school for more than 20 years. A retired teacher is teaching Damelio’s class until she returns to work, which could take months.

“She’s strong-willed and she’ll pull through,” Connors said. “It’s just going to take time.”

Connors says Damelio’s students were told about the crash before a letter was sent home. He said guidance councilors are available to answer any questions students might have.

The Ordways were active in volunteer groups to help people infected with AIDS, according to a published report.

Epsom man dies in crash

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:51:00 GMT

BY JENN McDOWELL

A motorcycle accident involving an alleged drunk driver ended in the death of a well-liked Epsom man and New Hampshire Department of Transportation design head.

Michael Fudala, 56, chief of final eesign for the DOT’s Bureau of Highway Design, died as he drove his motorcycle down Route 106 in Concord.

“I’m going to miss his very quiet, subtle sense of humor, his selflessness and his strength of character,” said his wife of 34 years, Karin Fudala.

Fudala also leaves behind three grown sons: Matthew Fudala, Jonathan Fudala and Nicholas Fudala.

The other driver, Thomas McCallister, 51, of Concord, was charged initially with aggravated driving while intoxicated. Other charges are likely forthcoming, according to Concord police Detective John Thomas.

“I’m not giving out the details on how it happened,” said Thomas. “I don’t want to taint anybody who actually witnessed it.”

The accident occurred on Thursday, June 19, at around 8 p.m., on Route 106 near the Makris Lobster Pool restaurant. Fudala and McCallister, both on motorcycles, were apparently the only ones involved in the accident, said Thomas.

Fudala suffered extensive injuries and was taken first to Concord Hospital and then to Dartmouth Medical Center in Lebanon, where he was pronounced dead later that evening.

The Concord Police Department’s accident reconstruction team is currently investigating the cause of the accident, Thomas said.

Thomas added that as the department continues to gather facts, several witnesses have come forward to offer information.

Karin Fudala described her husband as a “Renaissance man,” to whom no project was too big or too complex – from landscaping, to building stone walls, to home improvements to vehicle repairs. He also enjoyed building furniture, tying flies and mentoring his three sons. “He also cherished spending time in the Great North Woods, and being outdoors anywhere,” Karin Fudala said.

She added her husband took pride in maintaining the state’s road system while keeping to the state’s natural character and had a great concern for conservation. Administrator of the Highway Design Bureau Craig Green, whom Fudala worked under at the department, said Fudala worked for the DOT for 34 years.

“He was a dedicated employee who touched all of our lives in one way or another. He seemed to have a passion for everything he was involved in,” said Green. “It was a shock to all of us who worked with him,” said Peter Stamnus of the DOT’s Highway Design Department, currently the project manager for the I-93 improvements. “Everybody respected the work that he did, and he was committed to completing his duty,” Stamnus said.

Stamnus, who has known Fudala for about 22 years, worked on several bridge renovation projects with Fudala over the years including the Holderness- Plymouth Bridge on Route 175 and the Spaulding Turnpike Scammel Bridge repairs.

Green said Fudala was heavily involved with the highway resurfacing projects going on throughout the state.

“Obviously, we have a big gap in our bureau. Everyone’s doing the best they can to try to work through this whole thing,” Green said.

Karin Fudala said she and her husband moved to Epsom 10 years ago, having lived in Pembroke previously for about 20 years and before that in Hooksett for two years.

She added Fudala had three beloved motorcycles. The one he was driving, a 1958 Harley- Davidson pan head, he’d owned since about 1975 and had kept in prime condition.

He also enjoyed working on and driving his award-winning 1996 limited edition Corvette. Karin Fudala added she wants to hear McCallister’s side of the story on how the accident happened.

She added she and her family are grateful for the way first responders, doctors and other emergency personnel handled her husband’s serious injuries. “We are very impressed and thankful for the care that he received from the scene, to Concord, through DHART (Dartmouth- Hitchcock Advanced Response Team) to Hanover,” she said, and added donations of either money or blood should be made to the Red Cross in his name instead of sending flowers.

“They went through a lot of blood for him,” she said. “I guess the other thing people could do is enjoy some time walking out in the woods, and if they spot a deer or a partridge, or catch a good fish, or if their riding their bike into the wind ... say, ‘Here’s to you, Mike,’” she said.

Memorial services will be held at McHugh Funeral Home at 283 Hanover St. in Manchester on Tuesday, July 8, from 4 to 8 p.m.

Donations may be made to the American Red Cross, New Hampshire Chapter, 1800 Elm St., Manchester, NH 03104; or to DHART c/o Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756.

Epsom News : accident

Epsom teacher hurt in double fatal accident

Epsom man dies in crash