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March 28, 2024

UNR President Milton Glick dies of stroke at age 73

Updated Sunday, April 17, 2011 | 3:44 p.m.

Milton Glick

Milton Glick

UNR President Milton Glick has died of a stroke at the age of 73.

Chancellor Dan Klaich says Glick was eating at a restaurant with his wife, Peggy, when he suffered the stroke Saturday night. He says he was uncertain whether Glick died before or after being taken to a Reno hospitall.

Glick oversaw the construction of major buildings on campus, the recruitment of a record number of top students and a higher graduation rate, as well as major budget cuts due to the state's financial crisis.

A one-time chemistry professor and former provost at Arizona State Univesity, he became UNR's 15th president in 2006.

Gov. Brian Sandoval and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid were among those expressing sorrow over Glick's death and praising his leadership abilities.

Reid said Glick will be missed for the leadership he brought to higher education community in Nevada.

“I was deeply saddened to learn of Dr. Milt Glick's sudden passing. He was one of the most dynamic presidents the University of Nevada, Reno has had, recruiting a record number National Merit Scholars and Presidential Scholars to study there. He was a breath of fresh air on campus with his trademark hat and great sense of humor, and loved by faculty and students alike," Reid said in prepared remarks.

“Milt fostered a culture of excellence at UNR by increasing graduation rates, growing the school's capacity as a research university and building a more diverse student body by opening the doors to a college education for more Nevada students," Reid said. "As Milt did throughout his career, we must continue to advocate for a strong system of higher education and make sure that all Nevadans who want to pursue a college education are able to. Dr. Glick was a renowned scientist, teacher and leader, and Nevada will miss him dearly.”

UNLV President Neal Smatresk expressed sadness at Glick's death.

"The UNLV community and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Milton Glick. Milt was a wonderful colleague and dear friend. I appreciated our close collaboration to improve higher education in Nevada, and valued his wit, wisdom and vision," Smatresk said in a statement released this afternoon. "The loss of Milt's leadership will be deeply felt not only at the University of Nevada, Reno but throughout our state. UNLV grieves with our sister institution, and we offer our deepest condolences to Milt's wife, Peggy, his family and the extended university community. Today we lost one of Nevada's finest educators and leaders."

U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said Glick's death "is a major loss."

“Nevada has lost a great leader. Milt Glick applied his huge talents and wonderful personality to achieve great success at the University of Nevada, Reno. He did so much to bring top students to the University, and to build its research capabilities," Berkley said. "His passing is a major loss, but he leaves a great legacy for our state. I am honored to have enjoyed his friendship. I will miss President Glick, as will so many other Nevadans whose lives he touched.”