Marquette University President Michael Lovell died Sunday in Rome. Lovell was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, in 2021. In a university statement, a university spokesperson said Lovell and his wife were in Rome on a Jesuit pilgrimage with members of the Jesuit and Board of Trustees when he fell ill and was taken to a local hospital. According to the Marquette University website, Lovell helped found Near West Side Partners, a nonprofit organization focused on economic development, housing, and strengthening neighborhood identity and safety. He also co-founded with his wife Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee (SWIM), an organization that addresses the effects of generational trauma. Lovell joined Marquette University 10 years ago. (Read: Lovell named president of Marquette University Prior to joining Marquette, Lovell served as president of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of President Lovell, and our condolences go out to his family, the Marquette University community and all of Milwaukee whose lives were touched by this great man,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a statement.Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said at the X, “On this sad day, our prayers go out to Chancellor Lovell, his family, friends and the @MarquetteU community.” Governor Tony Evers said at the X, “I had so much respect for Mike. He cared deeply about Milwaukee and the students and faculty he led, and I was always heartened by his positive, professional demeanor. This is truly saddening. Cathy and I offer our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and campus community.” The Milwaukee Bucks also released a statement saying, “Michael Lovell was a dedicated leader and educator who cared deeply about Marquette University, its students and our city. His death is a great loss for us all. A key voice in helping build the Fiserv Forum, Chancellor Lovell was a staunch supporter of progress and innovation, and we will always be grateful for his longtime friendship with the Bucks.”We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, the Marquette University community and all who knew him. His extraordinary impact will be remembered. Forever. ” University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee President Mark Mohn said, “It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of Marquette University President and former UWM Chancellor Michael Lovell. Mike’s impact on UWM, Marquette University and the entire Milwaukee region is immeasurable, as is the sadness we all feel upon learning of his passing. We will forever honor his dedication to improving people’s lives through education and his dedication to so many.” MSOE President Dr. John Y. Waltz said, “On behalf of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Marquette University community, as well as Dr. Lovell’s wife, children, relatives and friends. Dr. Lovell was a visionary leader whose dedication to academic excellence and community service has left an indelible mark not only on Marquette University, but on higher education as a whole.” I have deep respect for Dr. Lovell’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the educational experience, fostering research and collaboration, and strengthening connections with the broader community. Dr. Lovell welcomed me when I arrived in Milwaukee to take up the role of MSOE president. I was honored to have him not only attend my inauguration but to have developed a lasting friendship. As engineers leading a university, we were kindred spirits. Dr. Lovell’s legacy will continue to influence and guide Marquette University for years to come. ” Former NBA and Marquette University basketball player Travis Diener wrote to X: “I pray for the repose of a great man. Dr. Lovell embodied everything we want in a leader: toughness, humility, passion, and energy. His spirit will live on forever.” Former Marquette University women’s basketball coach Megan also wrote to X: “Heartbreaking. An incredible person and leader. Gone too soon. Dr. Lovell, thank you for everything. No one is stronger than him.” #lovellstrong “Former Marquette University basketball player and current Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said, “We are saddened by the passing of our beloved President Michael Lovell. He was a giant with a gentle heart. Dr. Lovell loved Marquette University and we loved him. He cared deeply about his students educationally. More importantly, he cared about their development as people and future leaders of our community. Our deepest condolences to his family. Thank you for sharing him with us. We are Marquette University.”
Marquette University President Dr. Michael Lovell died Sunday in Rome.
In 2021, Lovell was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare type of cancer.
A university spokesman said in a statement that Lovell and his wife were in Rome on a Jesuit pilgrimage with fellow Jesuit members and board members when they felt ill and were taken to a local hospital.
According to Marquette University’s website, Lovell helped found Near West Side Partners, a nonprofit focused on economic development, housing and strengthening neighborhood identity and safety, and he co-founded with his wife Scaling Wellness Milwaukee (SWIM), an organization that addresses the effects of intergenerational trauma.
Lovell enrolled at Marquette University 10 years ago. (See below: Lovell becomes president of Marquette University)
Lovell served on several local boards and national higher education consortia.
Prior to his position at Marquette, Lovell served as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Chancellor Lovell and my condolences go out to his family, the Marquette University community and all of Milwaukee whose lives were touched by this great man,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a statement.
“On this sad day, our prayers are with Chancellor Lovell, his family and friends and the @MarquetteU community,” Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said on X.
“I had great respect for Mike. He cared deeply about Milwaukee and the students and faculty he led, and I was always encouraged by his positive and professional demeanor. This is truly regrettable. Kathy and I offer our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and the campus community,” Gov. Tony Evers said at the X.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
The Milwaukee Bucks also released a statement saying, “Michael Lovell was a dedicated leader and educator who cared deeply about Marquette University, its students and our city. His passing is a great loss for us all. A key voice in helping to build the Fiserv Forum, President Lovell was a strong advocate for progress and innovation, and we are forever grateful for his longtime friendship with the Bucks. We offer our deepest condolences to his family, friends, the Marquette University community and all who knew him. His extraordinary impact will be forever remembered.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee President Mark Mohn wrote, “It is with great sadness that I share the news that Marquette University President and former University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Michael Lovell has passed away. Mike’s impact on the University of Wisconsin, Marquette University, and the entire Milwaukee region is immeasurable, as is the sadness we all feel upon learning of his passing. We will forever honor his selfless service to so many people and his dedication to improving lives through education.” Read President Mohn’s full statement here.
“On behalf of the Milwaukee College of Engineering, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Marquette University community and to Dr. Michael Lovell’s wife, children, relatives and friends on the passing of our beloved president, Dr. Lovell,” said MSOE President John Y. Waltz. “Dr. Lovell was a visionary leader whose dedication to academic excellence and community service left an indelible mark not only on Marquette but on higher education as a whole. I have deep respect for Dr. Lovell and his unwavering commitment to enhancing the educational experience, fostering research and collaboration, and strengthening connections with the broader community. He welcomed me when I arrived in Milwaukee to assume the role of MSOE president, and it was an honor not only to have him attend my inauguration, but to have developed an enduring friendship. As engineers leading a university, we were kindred spirits. Dr. Lovell’s legacy will continue to influence and guide Marquette University for years to come.”
Former NBA player and Marquette University basketball player Travis Diener wrote to X, “May a great man rest in peace. Dr. Lovell embodied everything we want in a leader – toughness, humility, passion and energy. His spirit will live on forever.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Megan, a former Marquette University women’s basketball coach, also posted to X, “My heart is broken. An incredible person and leader. Gone too soon. Thank you for everything Dr. Lovell. No one is stronger than you. #lovellstrong.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Doc Rivers, former Marquette University basketball player and current head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, said, “We are saddened by the passing of our beloved President Michael Lovell. He was a giant with a gentle heart. President Lovell loved Marquette University and we loved him. He cared deeply about our students educationally. More importantly, he cared about their development as people and future leaders of our community. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and we thank them for sharing him with us. We are Marquette University.”
