Robert C. Eastman, a custodian at the College since 1981, died yesterday morning while at work in Filene Auditorium in Bradley-Gerry Hall. He was 59.
Eastman was discovered unconscious and not-breathing by a student at approximately 10:25 a.m.. The student called an ambulance, and Eastman was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m.. The cause of death is not yet known.
Rachel Federman '98, the student who discovered Eastman, said she was passing through Filene when she noticed a man slumped over in the front row.
"He didn't look like a man who was taking a break," Federman said. "He had one arm down and there was cleaning fluid all over the floor."
When the man did not respond to her attempts to get his attention, Federman said she asked another custodian for help. Together they called the ambulance.
Assistant Director of Facilities Operations and Management John Gratiot said Eastman will be missed. "We are all very sad and our hearts go out to him," he said.
