UW-Green
Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard
"We are, in so many ways, Dr. Weidner's University of Wisconsin:
as the direct expression of his revolutionary vision for higher
education, as the product of his tireless hard work, and, even
after his retirement, as the focus of his caring, concern, and
commitment.
"The depth
of the loss for our community and for our university is matched
only by the personal loss we all feel for Ed. He was held so
strongly in the affection of so many of us, and together we
grieve. Marge Weidner and the entire family are very much in
our hearts."
UW
System President Kevin Reilly
"On behalf of the Regents, the entire UW System, and myself,
condolences to the Weidner family and the UWGB community on
Ed's passing. He is sure to be remembered as one of the giants
in the history of the University of Wisconsin."
Retired
UW-Green Bay Associate Chancellor Donald Harden
"Ed was a Renaissance man. He loved the arts on the one hand
and athletics on the other and just about every other human
endeavor between the two. He had a very rich and full life and
made contributions not only to the University, obviously, but
to many other community organizations with which he worked.
"Ed started
the campus from scratch, which is an exceedingly difficult thing
to do. It was a monstrous task. This campus has been a major
force not only economically and educationally, but culturally.
To have started this University, he made a major contribution
to the lives of anyone who attended the University and also
those who have lived in this community and throughout the region."
Retired
UW-Green Bay Vice Chancellor William Kuepper
"It's important that the current generation of people in the
University community who knew Ed as chancellor emeritus and
as a very enthusiastic supporter of Phoenix Athletics understand
what he did. He brought to the campus a spirit of innovation,
which really captured the souls of many of the faculty members
who already were here (at the Green Bay two-year center campus)
and decided to make a commitment to the University just like
Ed Weidner did.
"He was
a remarkable chancellor in those early years. UW-Green Bay would
not be what it is today if someone else had come in and assumed
the reins in those early years. He was demanding and very determined.
He was marvelously creative. I don't know that I've found anyone
who was more innovative, determined and with a quicker mind
than Ed Weidner."
Community
member James Temp
"He was a bird watcher who was highly intelligent and could
talk education and politics. Yet he could have a beer with you
and talk football.
"We now
have UWGB graduates the world over. It got off to a great start
with Ed Weidner. His legacy? The name on the center. That says
it all."
Prof.
William Laatsch, UW-Green Bay's longest-serving faculty member
"He was certainly a futurist. The testimony of that is that
it would be difficult to find a school in the country that didn't
have an environmental science program or some program that addresses
the environment. He also made a huge contribution through his
approach to an integrated general education program. A program
like that emphasizes problem solving, communication skills of
writing and speaking, and working effectively within a group.
It was the interdisciplinary concept. Other universities have
adopted it. We've gotten away from it a little.
"He liked
and encouraged fluidity of ideas, of faculty assignments. He
never allowed an organizational chart on campus. He thought
that stifled people. He wanted faculty to be pursuing new ideas
and new frontiers.
"He was
enormously creative and understood students. He was kind and
personable and warm as an individual."
Nancy
Deprey, UW-Green Bay's first graduate in 1970
"He always remembered who you were. He made you feel you were
an important person. It always surprised me when he would say,
'Hello, Nancy, how are you?'
"When we
had the celebration of the 20,000th graduate (in 2002), it was
wonderful to see how the faculty and staff greeted him. He was
very well-respected by everyone. He had a vision for the University
and carried it through and worked very hard for it. The University
was ahead of its time."
State
Sen. (and UW-Green Bay alumnus) Dave Hansen
"As a member of one of UWGB's first graduating classes I was
saddened to hear of the passing of Chancellor Weidner. Not only
was he UWGB's founding chancellor, he was widely respected as
an innovator in education and is rightfully considered the father
of the institution. Under his guidance the university grew from
its infancy into a respected campus in the university system
that has made it the pride of Northeast Wisconsin. Through his
vision, dedication to higher education and commitment to our
community, Chancellor Weidner set an extremely high standard
for all who followed him. I am thankful to have known him, grateful
for his contributions and wish to extend my sympathies to his
family."
Betty
Brown, founding head of UW-Green Bay News Services
"Ed was a dreamer. He also had the passion, the political skill
and the will to see many of those dreams come true. His interest
was always in furthering the interests of the University. It
was never self-aggrandizement. It was always in building the
institution."
Former
UW-Green Bay women's basketball coach Carol Hammerle
"As the former chancellor at UW-Green Bay, Ed displayed outstanding
leadership because he had a vision for such a young campus.
I believe his vision was well ahead of the times. The atmosphere
and success that UW-Green Bay athletics and especially women's
athletics enjoy today is what Ed Weidner envisioned for this
University.
"In my
32 years of coaching, he was the only chancellor to ask me each
year what I needed to improve the quality of the women's basketball
program. When I reflect back I realize what a pivotal person
he was in my career at UW-Green Bay.
"After
I left UW-Green Bay he made it a point to stay in contact with
me. He was a role model, a mentor and a friend. I will miss
him dearly."
Retired
UW-Green Bay Business Manager Cyril (Zeke) Backes
"Ed would always listen to an idea or suggestion whether it
was contrary to his thinking or not. That was a gem of his.
He took universities in a different way of thinking. He moved
away from the standard letters and sciences theme and put more
emphasis on environmental themes. I enjoyed working for him
for a lot of good reasons. He never left you out hanging."
