NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine — A tragic incident unfolded in New Gloucester over the weekend, when a beloved member of the community lost his life in a furnace explosion at his home.
Lado Lodoka, who immigrated to the U.S. nearly 30 years ago in search of a better life, found a home in Maine. However, his life was unexpectedly cut short while he was reportedly working on his furnace.
Lodoka's passing has sent shockwaves through several communities, leaving friends, neighbors, and fellow immigrants mourning the loss of a who they described as a remarkable individual.
A close friend of his, Ben Arthur, shared his memories of 44-year-old Lodoka and how he forever changed lives.
"Lado is a very unique person, a social person, advisor. He liked to advise people a lot but doesn't want advice. He's a concrete guy. When he decides something must be done, it must be done," Arthur said.
Arthur moved to Maine with Lodoka in 1994 from Kenya. Lodoka went on to serve in the Army before returning to Maine.
Arthur recalled the life-altering moment when he received the call about his friend's tragic demise.
"Around 2 a.m., somebody called us and said, 'Hey, Lado, he is no more.' I said, 'What happened? I just spoke to him.' They said, 'Lado died.' I picked up the car and drove all the way there and found firefighters were all around," Arthur said.
Lodoka was deeply involved in the community, especially when it came to helping immigrants find housing and establish their lives in Maine.
Lodoka initiated the Immigrant Housing Coalition, where he became a mentor to many.
"Lado was the type of person that would call just to check on me," Nyawal Lia, a beneficiary of Lodoka's mentorship, said. "He had the ability to unify people. I think Lado's passing has affected a lot of leaders in Maine who he was a friend, brother, and mentor to."
Lodoka leaves behind four sons. As a veteran, he will be laid to rest in Augusta.
A celebration of his life is planned for next Saturday, though the time and location were still undecided as of Friday afternoon.