Tag Obituaries
Political scientist and former UW–Madison Chancellor Bernard Cohen dies at 97
Bernard Cecil Cohen, a prominent political scientist and influential author who spent 30 years at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in a variety of academic and administrative roles, including one year as acting chancellor.
Paul DeLuca, former provost and physicist, dies at 79
As a faculty member and administrator, DeLuca championed the School of Medicine and Public Health and helped shape UW–Madison's research enterprise.
Remembering Klaus Westphal, longtime former director of the UW Geology Museum
Westphal's legacy of public engagement in the sciences lives on at the museum and across UW–Madison.
Remembering Chuck Snowdon, renowned primatologist and professor emerit of psychology
Charles T. Snowdon, Hilldale Professor Emeritus of Psychology, died Jan. 7 in Madison at age 81. A distinguished primatologist, mentor and friend, Snowdon is remembered for his dedication to others as much as for his impressive academic legacy.
Remembering Layne Hailu
The junior who passed away in Madison on Aug. 19 is being remembered by friends as a changemaker and innovator. He was also passionate about sports, music and was known for his infectious smile and generous nature.
UW–Madison mourns influential, beloved geography professor Yi-Fu Tuan
Yi-Fu Tuan, a towering intellectual figure and University of Wisconsin–Madison professor emeritus of geography died Aug. 10 at UW Hospital in Madison at age 91. Tuan was a prolific writer and deep thinker who was known as the father of humanistic geography.
Haveman was instrumental in founding of UW’s La Follette School
Robert Haveman, former director of the La Follette School of Public Affairs and the Institute for Research on Poverty, died June 18. He is being remembered as "a world-class scholar, teacher and public servant.”
UW mourns an important mathematician and beloved mentor
Georgia Benkart, emeritus professor of mathematics, died unexpectedly on April 29. “Each of her papers was a polished gem,” a colleague says of Benkart. Among many professional distinctions, she served as president of the Association for Women in Mathematics in 2009–11.
Remembering senior Arden Jiaxin He, a prolific scholar of extraordinary talent
Arden, who passed away on March 2 at age 19, was a triple-major in data science, economics and mathematics who brought a fierce intellect and empathetic spirit to academic work.
Dave Black inspired many student journalists at WSUM 91.7
He took special pride in mentoring students, empowering them to make the station truly student-run and use the skills they’ve learned to grow professionally.
Virgil Abloh: A visionary designer and artist
Abloh, a UW–Madison graduate in civil engineering who became the artistic director of menswear for Louis Vuitton, died of cancer Sunday at age 41.
Wisconsin Public Media remembers Director Gene Purcell
The head of the UW–Madison division that provides statewide access to public media through Wisconsin Public Radio and PBS Wisconsin died Saturday from injuries suffered in a traffic crash.
Nuclear engineering research and education pioneer Max Carbon dies at 99
As founding chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, Carbon authored "Nuclear Power: Villain or Victim? Our Most Misunderstood Source of Electricity."
Tom Brock, who discovered world-changing extremophiles, dies at 94
One of the species Brock discovered helped usher in the modern era of molecular biology and underpins today’s PCR tests for the COVID-19 virus.
Remembering Rachel Feldhay Brenner
Rachel Feldhay Brenner, the Elaine Marks WARF Professor of Jewish Studies at UW–Madison, died Feb. 4. Born in Poland, Brenner moved to Israel with her family before coming to Madison, where she became an internationally recognized scholar of Hebrew, Polish and Canadian literatures.
Kutzbach’s role in climate science ‘expansive and foundational’
John Kutzbach, an emeritus professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, died Jan. 29. His contributions “helped all of us better understand important aspects of our universe — in particular, those of the Earth’s climate system."
Dolan led Waisman Center in two decades of growth
Dolan was instrumental in expansion of the center to include laboratories dedicated to stem cell and gene therapy research, a biomanufacturing facility, a brain imaging center, and new space for the Waisman Early Childhood Program.
Holocaust survivor, geneticist, patient advocate remembered for inspiring others
Renata Laxova focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities, prenatal diagnosis of birth defects, cancer genetics, and — above all — the relationships between medical professionals and patients.
Research administrator Bob Andresen remembered for his humor and passion
Andresen, who died Nov. 19, said in a 2016 profile: “I feel I can help the faculty that are looking for cures for diseases or solutions to social problems by doing what I do best."
Policing pioneer, law school professor Herman Goldstein dies at 88
Goldstein is best known for his concept of problem-oriented policing, a framework for reform that has been adopted by police agencies everywhere from Madison, Wisconsin, to Scotland Yard.