BANGOR, Maine — When Peter D’Errico looked up at the new sign hanging outside Bangor International Airport on a drizzly Wednesday morning, he smiled and put two thumbs up.
“Did we spell it right?” joked an airport official standing nearby.
“Yeah, even the part I never understood,” D’Errico said, pointing out the apostrophe in his name.
About 200 city officials, Maine Air National Guard leaders, congressional representatives, airport staff, family and friends gathered for a ceremony Wednesday at the airport honoring its longtime director and unveiling the new name of the domestic passenger terminal — Peter R. D’Errico Passenger Terminal.
“I just thank everyone here,” D’Errico said during the ceremony. “I’m a lucky guy in so many respects.”
In the wake of the 1968 closure of Dow Air Force Base, Bangor was reeling and trying to figure out how to deal with the economic loss. The city purchased the base that would become Bangor International Airport and, two years later, handed the keys to D’Errico. He would lead the airport for the next 20 years.
“A lot of things could have gone wrong in those years,” said Brig. Gen. Douglas Farnham, head of the Maine National Guard and former commander of the Air National Guard’s 101st Air Refueling Wing based at the airport. “Fortunately, we had Peter D’Errico.”
D’Errico built up the airport during his years in charge, bringing private businesses into empty hangars and former Air Force buildings, adding infrastructure for passengers both international and domestic, and creating a sustainable transportation hub.
“Bangor would not be the city it is now without the infrastructure work he led,” Bangor City Council Chairman Sean Faircloth said.
The terminal that bears D’Errico’s name is nearing completion of a $14 million renovation and modernization project.
It’s a fitting tribute to the “father of the airport,” said Bangor International Airport Director Tony Caruso.
D’Errico is credited with bringing more than 50 companies to the airport during his tenure, as well as fostering a strong partnership with the 101st, also known as the Maineiacs. He also served on the Bangor City Council — including one brief stint from 1969 to 1970 and a two-term tenure from 2003 to 2009.
Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter at @nmccrea213.