State police said Arthur Tucker's death was accidental, of multiple head trauma, possibly from falling off a ridge.
The late Arthur T. Tucker, who died in Holyoke April 8, in a photo friends say is a few years old. Friends are trying to arrange for proper burial.HOLYOKE – An account has been set up for donations to pay for the burial of Arthur T. Tucker, who was found dying by the side of a road March 31 at Holyoke Community College.
Also, photographs of Tucker have surfaced courtesy of a Chicopee man.
Tucker, 72, died April 8 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
His death resulted from multiple head trauma, state police Capt. Peter Higgins said. Investigators consider the death an accident that was possibly a result of a fall from a ridge on the HCC campus, he said.
Tucker’s body is with the state medical examiner’s office at Providence Hospital here, Higgins said.
State police and people who knew Tucker have been unable to find any of his family. Those who considered him a friend said Tucker never talked about where he was from. He didn’t work at or attend Holyoke Community College, officials.
As a result, friends such as lawyer William P. MacDonald are hoping the state will release Tucker’s body to them for a proper burial.
MacDonald said Friday those who wish to donate can send checks made out to Arthur Tucker Memorial Fund to Law Offices of William MacDonald, 1697 Main Street Springfield, MA 01103.
Juan J. Gonzalez, a bus driver with Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, found Tucker at daybreak on the ground at the base of a 20-foot-high cliff at the college across from Parking Lot A.
The discovery was especially jarring for Gonzalez because he had become friends with Tucker who took the bus a lot over the past five years.
Tucker was renting a room in a house on Homestead Avenue near the college, but those who knew him said he moved around a lot.
In the photos provided by Gonzalez, Tucker is wearing a black derby hat and black suit. He is wearing the outfit and standing with a horse in one of the photos.
Frederick P. Krug, of Chicopee, said over the phone Tuesday he took the photographs of Tucker a few years ago at a farm in Westfield.
Krug said Tucker would stay with him about three times a year for about three days at a time. But while he liked Tucker, Krug said he knew little about him.
“He was a mystery man. He didn’t like to talk about himself,” Krug said.
Anyone with information about Tucker’s family or interested in helping can reach MacDonald at wmacdon@me.com and Gonzalez at sharefiles28@hotmail.com