After graduating from Trinity, Ed Micelli ’67 obtained a Civil Engineering degree from Penn State and worked locally for Gannett Flemming, in San Fransisco on the BART system, and in Atlanta on the MARTA system before starting his own energy business. Ed took the worldwide stage when he carried the Olympic Torch at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, a feat made even more poignant by the fact that Ed had cystic fibrosis (CF). Though this genetic disease typically has the effect of reducing lung function, Ed was able to keep active most of his life with a three-day exercise regimen of running three miles one day, skating five miles the next, and biking ten miles the third.

It was his success at living a full life with CF that prompted the CF Foundation in Atlanta, with whom Ed worked, to nominate him to carry the torch for the Olympics and widely publicize his story. Despite his efforts, CF eventually caused his lungs to deteriorate ultimately requiring a double lung transplant. The operation was successful, but Ed died three days later from heart failure at the age of 52. Despite being dealt a bad hand at birth, Ed managed a productive life and was a commendable Trinity alumnus.