enlarge David Leaming/Blethen Maine News Service

Terry Hughes,the Maine Warden Service’s assistant dive team commander, speaks with reporters after announcing that the body of Thomas Kopp, 69, of Waterville, was recovered around 10 a.m. Sunday from Great Pond, background, in Belgrade.

enlarge 1979 file photo

Thomas Kopp

Thomas Kopp, 69, of Waterville, died Saturday when the boat he was in capsized.

Kopp, the senior associate dean of admissions for Colby College in Waterville, was on a camping trip with his son, Michael Kopp of Rhode Island, and his three grandsons, ages 14, 12, and 10, Lt. Pat Dorian of the warden service said.

The warden service was called to Great Pond around noon Saturday after receiving a call that the aluminum skiff had capsized, sending its five occupants into the water. Neither Thomas nor Michael Kopp was wearing a life jacket.

"Their boat became overloaded and a wave came up and literally flipped the boat over," Dorian said.

Thomas Kopp, an employee of the private college for nearly 30 years, started at Colby in 1978 as the assistant football coach, college spokesman Stephen Collins said. Kopp was promoted to head football coach before moving into the admissions department in 1983. He had been dean for a decade.

Colby College President William Adams said the college community was "stricken" to hear of Kopp's death.

"He was a wonderful, solid Colby citizen," Adams said. "Tom was extraordinarily upbeat and we all understood his deep love for the college. He was a very great presence here."

Described as being in "excellent shape for his age" by Collins, Kopp was passionate about sports, football in particular. The Connecticut native coached football at the University of Connecticut and Dartmouth College before coming to Colby, Collins said.

Kopp also worked for the Minnesota Twins organization, according to his resume.

Kopp's daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Kane Kopp, also is employed at Colby College, as an environmental studies coordinator.

Collins said he believes Kopp is survived by his wife, Melinda "Mimi" Kopp; four children, and several grandchildren.