To those who knew and loved him, MSU alumnus Anthony D’Angelo was more than just a friend. He was a colleague, an uncle, a brother and a son.

“Tony,” as many of his friends called him, died of kidney failure on his 38th birthday on May 13. Many of his friends say that when they came back from summer vacation, they were shocked by the news.

A memorial in his honor will be held at 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Walnut Hills Country Club.

D’Angelo, an Okemos resident, formerly of St. Clair Shores, earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in entomology at MSU. He also worked in the Department of Zoology for nine years.

He was a strong supporter of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, and gave many presentations to student organizations about the disease, friends said.

Donations to the National Kidney Foundation are being accepted on his behalf.

D’Angelo was a lab technician in the Biological Sciences Program, and like the many students who took these biomedical classes, some friends remember him for his upbeat nature.

“If I had to describe Tony in one word, it would be integrity,” said Kristen Genet, a friend of D’Angelo who knew him for five years.

“Tony never let his disease or any other setbacks life dealt him get him down,” said Genet, who worked at the Department of Zoology. “Most people who knew him probably didn’t have any idea he was sick, or that he had ever had a bad day in his life. His positive attitude really had a way of rubbing off on people.”

Many of D’Angelo’s friends and family say that he was well-known on campus, especially at the laboratory in North Kedzie Hall where he worked.

“He made working at the biology department a fun and memorable experience for everyone,” said Emily McKinney, another colleague of D’Angelo’s.

Since May 15, hundreds of entries from D’Angelo’s family and others who knew and loved him have been left on a Web site set up in his memory.

Some of his closest friends say that he touched so many people on campus because of his energy and cheerfulness, especially his tendency to sing Elvis songs as he walked down the halls of North Kedzie Hall.

“Tony always had a smile on his face,” said Linda Wolcott, a colleague of D’Angelo’s. “He was definitely a happy-go-lucky guy. There are no words to describe how kind and giving of a person he was.”

Wolcott said D’Angelo’s legacy is one of living life to the fullest.

D’Angelo’s friends also remember him for his pride in MSU, saying he constantly hummed the fight song every day at work.

For more information, on Sunday’s memorial service, contact Sonya Lawrence at (517) 353-9635.