Real-life MacGyver has many interests

By Jim Baker

Dan DePardo, a research engineer at Kansas University's Information and Telecommunications Technology Center, enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including taking his jet ski to Clinton Lake, gardening, landscaping his yard and especially riding his Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic Fi motorcycle.

jbaker@ljworld.com

Someone thinks Dan DePardo is pretty special ? and a shoo-in to be included on any list of Lawrence’s most eligible bachelors.

“He is simply an amazing guy with talents and qualities that easily make him not just a good catch but a great catch!” reads an e-mailed nomination letter. “For starters, he’s not too hard to look at. He has beautiful eyes and is in great shape. He’s romantic, caring and generous … he’s very funny and has a good-natured personality. He can build or fix anything ? Dan is a real-life MacGyver!”

DePardo, 41, was taken aback by the e-mailed nomination.

“I’m very flattered and a little embarrassed. I’m extremely curious about who did it,” he said.

DePardo, who has never been married and has no children, is a research engineer at Kansas University’s Information and Telecommunications Technology Center.

And he’s got all the requisite bachelor toys, like a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic Fi motorcycle, a Jet Ski and ? until a few years ago ? a 1968 Cobra Jet Cougar muscle car that he used to race. There are six remote controls, three motorcycle helmets and various athletic gear in his living room.

But DePardo has a softer side, too. He’s an expert cook, a free-lance illustrator and loves to landscape his yard with stones and blooming flowers.