New Haven Father, Grandfather, 54, Fatally Electrocuted Working For Landscaping Co. At Yale Golf Course

NEW HAVEN, CT — Luís Alberto Morocho Marcatoma, 54, of New Haven, is the man who was fatally electrocuted after coming in contact with a live, downed wire on the Yale University Golf Course early last Thursday night, according to Yale, and his family who confirmed his sudden death in a heartbreaking obituary and GoFundMe appeal to raise funds to help bury their loved one.

An Ecuadorian immigrant, father of three and grandfather of seven, was a worker for Eastern Land Management, a commercial landscape business who was working on the golf course site, which is closed and under renovation and construction.

Police caution tape ringed trees on the outer gate of the course on Conrad Street, Monday.

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As reported last week, Yale University, the city, and United Illuminating are investigating.

Several emails Monday to officials from Yale, UI and the city were not returned by press time. This post will be updated if responses are received.

Last week, after a request, UI spokesperson Sarah Wall Fliotsos emailed a statement to Patch.

"Our deepest sympathies are with those impacted by the tragic accident at the Yale Golf Course yesterday evening," she wrote. "We are committed to working closely with city officials and others as they continue their investigations into the incident."

According to his obituary, Marcatoma lived in Guayaquil, Ecuador for most of his life. He lived in Spring Valley, NY before moving to New Haven two years ago and began working for the landscape company.

His family wrote that Marcatoma, "...very much appreciated nature, the green fields, lakes and wild animals."

"For him, everything was beautiful," they wrote in his obituary. "He left us so many lessons, that it will be difficult for us to be like him. He taught us respect, the value of honoring God, and that even though we make mistakes, it was always a priority to return to His ways. Those values that he showed us with his life, his honest work and giving all, and so many other things that are difficult for us to express, because of the pain we are feeling."

In a GoFundMe appeal created several days ago and has pledges of around $7,000 of a hoped-for $10,000, the family wrote:

"In Loving Memory of Luis Alberto Morocho

On August 21, 2025, our family experienced an unimaginable loss when our beloved father, Luis Alberto Morocho, tragically passed away due to a work-related accident. His passing was sudden and heartbreaking, leaving us with a void that can never be filled.

Luis was a hardworking, kind, and devoted father who always put his family first. He touched the lives of everyone around him with his generosity, love, and strength. Losing him so unexpectedly has left us not only grieving but also facing the financial challenges of arranging his funeral and final farewell.

We have created this fundraiser to help cover the unexpected costs of funeral services, related expenses, and the repatriation of Luis to his home country, so that he may rest in peace surrounded by his loved ones.

Your support—whether through a donation or by sharing this page—will mean so much to our family during this painful time. Any amount, no matter how small, will help ease the burden as we come together to honor Luis’s life and memory.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love, kindness, and support."