{"id":134470,"date":"2026-08-06T01:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T06:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=134470"},"modified":"2026-08-05T10:45:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T15:45:38","slug":"leuenberger-remembered-for-business-leadership-kindness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/08\/06\/leuenberger-remembered-for-business-leadership-kindness\/","title":{"rendered":"Leuenberger remembered for business leadership, kindness"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Don Leuenberger, a legendary UNMC administrator and a major figure in UNMC\u2019s growth during his three-decade tenure, died on Monday, July 27, after a short illness. He was 81.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s time as vice chancellor, building space on campus more than tripled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon was a big-picture thinker whose business savvy allowed UNMC to capitalize on opportunities for growth,\u201d UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, said. \u201cI was among many leaders \u2013 at UNMC and beyond — who sought his counsel on various areas of business development, leadership, and his detailed knowledge of institutional and state history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Davies noted Leuenberger\u2019s critical role in helping establish UNeMed, the technology transfer & commercialization office for UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon chaired UNeMed\u2019s board skillfully for many years, contributing to the growth of intellectual commercialization, licensing opportunities and startup companies for UNMC-invented research,\u201d Dr. Davies said. \u201cMost 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At UNMC, his career spanned five different chancellors \u2013 Charles Andrews, MD, Carol Aschenbrener, MD, William Berndt, PhD, Harold M. Maurer, MD, and Dr. Gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon Leuenberger played an important role in the growth of UNMC over the course of his long career there,\u201d said Dr. Gold, now president of the University of Nebraska System. \u201cTo 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. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the highlights during Leuenberger\u2019s UNMC tenure were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n