Aidan Dorgan, Son Who Died in Pawtucket Mass Shooting, Was an Achiever

Aidan Dorgan, Son Who Died in Pawtucket Mass Shooting, Was an Achiever

Aidan Dorgan was a son who achieved.

On Monday, he went to see his brother play his "senior night" hockey game at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket. He had been hired months earlier by Electric Boat as an engineer and was living his professional dream.

While attending the game, Aidan’s father, Robert Dorgan, shot and killed his ex-wife, Rhonda, and Aidan. Robert Dorgan critically wounded three others, including his former in-laws and a family friend.

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Aidan’s life had been one of achievement.

 

Hockey Was Family Bond

Aidan had played at a similar hockey night just a few years earlier. He had been a four-year starter on the same team.

When Aidan was seeking to get recruited, he wrote in his high school recruitment profile, “First and foremost, although it may not be true, I feel as though coaches won't give me a chance becasue they see I play for a low division high school team that barely has enough players to stay afloat. Also, I did start the recruiting process later than desired. However, I wish to develop a relationship with coaches and show them that I'm a hard-working, coachable defenseman that can play both sides of the ice. When I was younger I played for the Providence Capitals (now called the Providence Hockey Club) in the Eastern Hockey Federation and I felt I was truly able to show my potential playing in that league.”

“As we got older, all my teammates went to D1 private schools and I'm stuck at a D3 co-op where I feel like my playing style doesn't fit with the other players on my team. I don't mean to give a sob story I'm just asking for a chance to prove that I would be a great fit for a college hockey team,” Aidan added.

It was not his only focus; he also played football and lacrosse at North Providence. He worked multiple summer jobs. He was "that" kid. 

The high school paper, The Cougar Courier, wrote a profile in 2021 about Aidan restoring a 1968 Mustang GT 500. A project, Aidan said, he worked on with his “grandpa.”

That grandfather was also shot and is in critical condition.

“As the seniors at our school presented their Senior Projects, staff and students alike were presented with a plethora of engaging presentations. One of the coolest presentations in this bunch, however, had to be Aidan Dorgan’s. Taking a bruised up automobile and using it as a base to create a unique and stylish new ride all on his own! I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dorgan on the making of this project, and without further ado, you can view it yourself below!” wrote the paper’s managing editor, Ahmad Almuhtaseb.

When asked about the project, Aidan said, “My senior project had its ups and downs, but overall it went swimmingly. With all the obstacles I had to overcome along the way, the project still came out awesome! (Evidently, y’all are writing an article about me!) This project very positively impacted me because it tied together my passion, career plan, and high school work into one project. Just like the banner says on the bridge: ‘I came. I saw. I conquered!’”

After North Providence High School, Aidan attended Merrimack University and graduated last May with a B.S. in mechanical engineering.

 

Building Boats at EB

This past summer, Aidan announced, “After years of education and applications, I'm thrilled to finally start living out my dream of working in the shipbuilding industry. ‘I’m staying 'till I'm hired or fired!’...”

Aidan was hired by Electric Boat as an engineer and worked in Groton, Connecticut. 

He wrote in his professional profile, “Built boats and worked fast food through high school and built pools every summer from there on until now where I am pursuing a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering. Still building boats, just now for the Navy.”