Todd S. Hartigan, a University technology staffer known here for his patience in explaining high-tech matters, died at his home in Lexington, Mass., on Nov. 12. He was 42-years-old.Mr. Hartigan's uncle said Monday that the circumstances of his death have not yet been released by the medical examiner, and it may take as long as two weeks for a cause of death to be released.

"I can only tell you that he died suddenly at home, and there is no clear sign of the cause as of yet," Gene Hartigan said Monday. Administrators and other employees would not comment on the cause of Mr. Hartigan's death.

Family and friends expressed their feelings for Mr. Hartigan, who worked in the Instructional Technology Resource Center for six years, on an Internet guest book on Legacy.com, a popular Web site for death notices. Many referred to the kindness and patience with which Mr. Hartigan offered his technical help.

"He was a good father, husband, friend, family member and even at the youngest of years, a teacher to us in the family," Gene Hartigan wrote on the Web site.

Mr. Hartigan was a graduate of Longmeadow High School in Mass., and received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University. He was close to earning a Master's of Arts in music composition in theory at Brandeis.

In addition to his work with the ITRC, Mr. Hartigan was an active musician and artist whose band played at clubs in Springfield, Mass., and Boston, and he worked in youth theatre productions, according to the Springfield Republican. He and his family volunteered their time for many charitable organizations in the Lexington area.

Marie Shaugnessy, a Library and Technology Services employee, said Mr. Hartigan was a considerate person who would provide help to anyone who asked him.

"He was really a great, great guy," Shaugnessy said. "He was very considerate, very caring, always made people laugh."

Prof. Eric Chafe (MUS) said he taught Mr. Hartigan around three years ago in one of his graduate courses in musicology, and originally knew him as a resource regarding computer technology, adding he "was happy to find that he was a musician as well."

Prof. Karen Hansen (SOC) posted on Legacy: "It breaks my heart to learn that Todd has died . I have loved working with him over the past 6 years and will miss him dearly."

Jennifer Stern, an employee in the Fine Arts department, wrote on Legacy that Mr. Hartigan was "warm, witty, patient and genuinely kind."

"If I called the ITRC with a technical problem and heard his voice on the other end of the phone, I knew all would be well," she added.

Mr. Hartigan is survived by his wife, Lorena Gadelius-Hartigan, and their two children, Jefferson and Eva. A memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Church in Longmeadow, Mass., on Dec. 2 and the University is planning a service on a date to be determined.