In Remembrance: Alexander Giuseppe William D’Angelo

Dear colleagues and students

We are deeply saddened to inform you of the passing of our colleague, Mr Alexander Giuseppe William D’Angelo (56), on 30 November 2022.

He was the principal librarian: Humanities, a role which includes the WH Bell Music, Hiddingh Hall Libraries and the Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship.

Mr D’Angelo joined the University of Cape Town (UCT) Libraries in 1996. During this time, he completed his master’s degree and postgraduate diploma in library and information science and worked through the ranks from student assistant to principal librarian.

Colleagues have described him as a consummate and scholarly professional librarian who immersed himself in knowledge. Through his creative expression and unorthodox interpretation of his role, he captured the minds of students and served as an example of “how to do things differently” to new professionals. He treated every request as a personal quest and revelled in exceeding the clients’ expectations. Professor Fiona Ross, who called him Sir Alex, described him as “a master of the wonderful world of a library; responsive to it, respectful of it, immersed in it and loyal to its promise.”

Mr D’Angelo touched many during his time at UCT and will be remembered as a respected colleague, manager, mentor and a friend. Despite many challenges and pressures in the role, he remained true to himself – a gentle soulful man of integrity.

He is survived by his daughter and partner. UCT Libraries hosted a memorial service on Friday, 9 December to honour and remember Mr D’Angelo. Funeral details were yet to be communicated to the university.

The university has reached out to offer support to the D’Angelo family and our sincere condolences go out to them and all who knew and loved him during this time of bereavement.

Sincerely

The UCT Executive

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• From the UCT Executive
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