Former BTC President Des McArdle dies

Former Bellingham Technical College President Desmond McArdle died Saturday, Dec. 12. He was 76.

McArdle first arrived at the Lindbergh Avenue campus as a counselor in 1972. At that time, the school was Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and was part of Bellingham School District.

McArdle became the school’s director’s in 1981, and when it became Bellingham Technical College in 1991, he became its first president. He retired 10 years later, but in 2006 was brought back to serve as interim president until 2007.

A building on campus — the Bellingham Technical College Desmond McArdle Center — was named for the former president. The 11-year-old, 16,000-square-foot building has specialized labs and classrooms for technology.

McArdle is survived by three daughters and wife, Joyce. Des McArdle lived in Bellingham with Joyce for nearly 50 years.

Father K. Scott Connolly will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at Church of the Assumption, 2116 Cornwall Ave., at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. A reception will follow in the Assumption gym.

To read what others are saying about McArdle, read his obituary at bellinghamherald.com.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Former BTC President Des McArdle dies."