Family, friends and admirers will gather on Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m. on the UMass Amherst campus to celebrate the life of the late Congressman John W. Olver. The public is invited to attend, and the event will also be livestreamed. 

Image

Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. at the John W. Olver Design Building, 551 North Pleasant Street. Parking will be available in Lots 62 and 63 adjacent to the building. Guests may also park for free in nearby lots. A reception will follow the event. 

The speaking portion of the event will also be broadcast on Amherst Media online, on YouTube and on Channel 15 for Amherst residents with cable or those who have the ability to stream from an app (available with Roku, AppleTV and smartphones).  

Olver died on February 23, 2023, at age 86, at home in Amherst. A passionate public servant, UMass professor, activist and conservationist, he came work at UMass Amherst in 1962 as a chemistry professor before entering political life. In recognition of his public service, he was made an honorary alumnus in 1981 and received an honorary doctorate in public service in 2014. His dedication to improving infrastructure and protecting the environment is reflected in the Olver Design Building, the largest academic contemporary wood structure in the country, named in his honor.