More than 150 friends, co-workers, and relatives of Peter D’Errico gathered Wednesday to honor the man who shepherded Bangor International Airport from infancy to adulthood.

D’Errico is retiring after more than 20 years as director of BIA and has accepted a three-year appointment as head of a group that is managing the regional reuse of an Air Force base in California. His new job starts Oct. 1.

City Manager Edward Barrett will name an acting director and hire an executive recruiter to assist in the search for a new director.

The crowd mingled in just one corner of the airport’s maintenance building. But after a luncheon of roast beef, ham or lobster newburg, the crowd filled the cavernous hall with laughter and applause as D’Errico opened presents and told jokes.

“Let me just say something before I come apart,” said D’Errico after receiving a plaque. “This is really a humbling experience. One of the dangers of trying to thank everybody is you’re going to leave somebody out. In 20 years you gather a lot of memories, friendships and loyalty.”

D’Errico arrived in Bangor in 1956 with his wife, a newborn child, wedding presents and little else. Over the years, with the Air Force, the National Guard, the City Council and especially at the airport’s helm, he said he had the luck to work with great people.

After unwrapping the presents, which included a day-glow T-shirt, shorts and sunglasses suitable for the California climate, and a hubcap to the Lincoln Towncar he wanted but never got, a few of his friends made some remarks.

“I know he’s not retiring. He’s going off to a big challenge,” said Robert Ziegelaar, director of sales and marketing. “And if he does half as well there as he did here, I know we’ll be reading about him.”