Don Leuenberger, a legendary UNMC administrator and a major figure in UNMC’s growth during his three-decade tenure, died on Monday, July 27, after a short illness. He was 81.
Leuenberger served as vice chancellor for business and finance at UNMC from 1988 to 2015, then served as a part-time senior adviser to then-Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, for several years. During Leuenberger’s time as vice chancellor, building space on campus more than tripled.
“Don was a big-picture thinker whose business savvy allowed UNMC to capitalize on opportunities for growth,” UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, said. “I was among many leaders – at UNMC and beyond — who sought his counsel on various areas of business development, leadership, and his detailed knowledge of institutional and state history.”
Dr. Davies noted Leuenberger’s critical role in helping establish UNeMed, the technology transfer & commercialization office for UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
“Don chaired UNeMed’s board skillfully for many years, contributing to the growth of intellectual commercialization, licensing opportunities and startup companies for UNMC-invented research,” Dr. Davies said. “Most importantly, Don was an extremely kind person who was generous with his time and a joy to be around. Our sincerest sympathies go out to Jani and all his extended family.”
In his role as vice chancellor, Leuenberger was responsible for all campus facilities, budget, human resources, information technology, finance/business services, security and legal service.
A fixture in the State Capitol for many years, Leuenberger worked in the Nebraska State Budget Office and as state tax commissioner for the Nebraska Department of Revenue. He served on the staffs of five Nebraska governors and the cabinets of four. They included Norbert Tiemann (staff only), James Exon, Charles Thone, Kay Orr and Ben Nelson.
Between 1995 and1998, Leuenberger took a leave of absence from UNMC to serve as director of social services/policy secretary for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, he led a massive reorganization effort involving the merger of five state agencies.
At UNMC, his career spanned five different chancellors – Charles Andrews, MD, Carol Aschenbrener, MD, William Berndt, PhD, Harold M. Maurer, MD, and Dr. Gold.
“Don Leuenberger played an important role in the growth of UNMC over the course of his long career there,” said Dr. Gold, now president of the University of Nebraska System. “To me, he was a trusted partner, an experienced adviser and a valued friend. To the UNMC community, and indeed the state at large, he was a visionary leader whose work helped UNMC expand its efforts to transform the lives and improve the health of the people of Nebraska and beyond. We extend our best wishes to his family. “
Among the highlights during Leuenberger’s UNMC tenure were:
- Development of an academic campus in which all colleges/academic facilities were located on the east end of campus near the Ruth and Bill Scott Student Plaza;
- Complete overhaul of antiquated research facilities with the creation of two research towers on the west end of campus – the Durham Research Center and Durham Research Center II;
- Initial construction of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, the largest construction project in the history of the University of Nebraska;
- Being instrumental in UNMC’s economic development role in Omaha and Nebraska.
Leuenberger is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Janice (DeBoy) Leuenberger; sons Derek (Deniz), Greg (Jenelle Cox), and Justin (Stephanie); six grandchildren; and sister, Pat Leuenberger. A full obituary can be found here.