Stouffer's 'Flyman' dies of heart attack

Employee Lee McNear collapsed during the dinner shift last night. and Ian Rosenblum Dining Services employee and Penn legend Lee "Flyman" McNear died of a heart attack last night after collapsing during the dinner shift at Stouffer Dining Commons, where he had worked since 1992. He was 41. McNear, who habitually greeted students as "my main man" or "my baby doll," collapsed at about 6:20 p.m. last night and was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, according to University Police. HUP administrators said they could not release any information about McNear, since they had not yet notified his next of kin. None of McNear's 10 siblings live in Philadelphia. McNear mumbled a few words before collapsing, leading some students to believe he was choking, according to College senior Benjamin Reynolds, an assistant student manager in Stouffer. Reynolds and College sophomore Matt Reilly then began CPR on McNear, while other students called for an ambulance. McNear's pulse and breathing did not return during the resuscitation attempts, although at one point he coughed up blood, forcing the two students to cease mouth-to-mouth. By the time an ambulance arrived 10 minutes later, it was "too late," Reynolds said. The paramedics continued trying to revive McNear for about five minutes before taking him to HUP, said College sophomore Amir Rozadowski, who was in Stouffer when McNear collapsed. College junior Clarke Beljean, a Stouffer student supervisor who worked the afternoon shift with McNear yesterday, said he hadn't noticed anything unusual about the health of his co-worker. "He looked as fine as Flyman usually seemed," Beljean said. "There was really nothing wrong with him. I was just shocked." McNear, the oldest of 11 children, was born in Wilmington, N.C., and lived in Philadelphia for the past nine years. While the extremely sociable employee was recognized by many students as the best thing about Stouffer, he also enjoyed his private time, telling 34th Street magazine last fall that he spent weekends listening to music and "chilling." But it was his friendliness and enthusiasm that students said they would miss most. "He always kept the atmosphere fun," Beljean said. "He took the boredom and the monotony away. He was Stouffer, I guess." Nearly every Stouffer diner grew fond of McNear's "You know you can!" refrain, which always accompanied the plates of food he served. And for the many students who considered "Flyman" a part of the University's history, his death will leave behind a void. "A little piece of esoteric Penn spirit is gone," Wharton senior and five-year Stouffer diner Jeffrey Greenhouse said. "He's a great person, he's always very friendly," Rozadowski said. "I eat at Stouffer every night, and the minute we found out, most of the guys I eat with rushed over to that side of the room to find out what happened. I mean, he's the reason that most people eat there." He constantly exuded a sense of familial warmth to his co-workers and students. In the Street interview, McNear explained that the close relationships in Stouffer were his favorite part of the job. "We treat each other with respect," McNear said. "And we try to also extend it to the kids." Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer Naomi Blivaiss contributed to this report.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.