Man who died at Bonnaroo was a UNCA alum; service Saturday ***UPDATED Tuesday 1 p.m.***

David Matthew Sloan, 29, of Wilmington, a UNCA alumnus, collapsed and died of heat-related illness at the Bonnaroo festival on Sunday.

Sloan attended UNCA from the Fall of 1999 to Spring 2005, according to university officials, though, contrary to initial reports, he did not graduate.

According to an announcement on Sloan’s Facebook page, there will be a memorial service on Saturday, June 19:

“Matt will be cremated in Nashville and his family plans to return home on Wed. A memorial service will be held on Sat., June 19th at 10 a.m. at Saint Andrews on the Sound in Wilmington, NC. His ashes will be scattered at 4 p.m. on Sat. June 19th at Sander’s Point at Trinity Center in Salter Path, NC. Please consider coming to celebrate Matt—a beautiful spirit that touched so many of us, albeit for too short of a time.”

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8 thoughts on “Man who died at Bonnaroo was a UNCA alum; service Saturday ***UPDATED Tuesday 1 p.m.***

  1. Tracy

    Matt started at UNCA in the fall of 1999. He was a political science major. I don’t know why I’m drawing a blank on his graduation year. approx 2005 I would say.

  2. West Asheville

    I have always wondered why they hold this festival in the hottest part of the year. No shade, 90 degree days, 100K people, alcohol and drugs…just seems like your asking for problems like this. Why not wait till fall or early spring?

  3. James Fisher

    Bonnaroo was truly hot and humid this year – even more so than previous ones I attended. The main reason to hold it in summer,I believe, is because school is out. A huge part of the demographic for most kinds of music is college students, high school even. Shade at Bonnaroo is limited but there are options. People hit the Cinema Tent sometimes just for the shade. 3 of the 5 main stages are covered and some have a handful of large trees very near them. Bonnaroo has also done a great job w/ water: there are several free water stations with cool,fresh,well water. I used these several times a day. Bottom line is that you have to really take extra care of yourself. I don’t know the details about David Sloan,just hate to see such a sad loss for his family and friends.

  4. pugman

    they hold the festival in summer cause of the bands tour dates, its the only time they can get all the bands together, but hell yeah the fall would be awesome to do it in. Plus the amount of people that wouldnt come due to school, best time they know people will be out. And families that take their vacation with there kids out of school.

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