Former University of Delaware president, career leader, family man David Roselle dies at 84

David Roselle's life will always be full of numbers.

The Pennsylvania native traveled nearly 500 miles to earn a doctorate in mathematics — concentrating in number theory, combinatorics and Eulerian mathematical functions — on the same Duke University campus he'd meet his wife of 56 years. He taught and led at Virginia Tech for 13 years, spent 17 as the University of Delaware's 25th president, before a decade more at Delaware's Winterthur Museum.

But this week, Roselle's years as a mathematician, father, leader and much more would end at 84. The former university president died peacefully on Monday after a "brief illness," family said, survived by loving generations and a community of friends. Details on services are pending, set to remember a long life and career.

It will take more than numbers to capture it.

A career begins

Roselle's life began in Western Pennsylvania.

Those "humble beginnings," described by his son, Arthur, in a drafted obituary, started in 1939 beside his parents and two siblings. Soon, Roselle started setting himself apart.

After leaving for college at West Chester University, he would look on to graduate from Duke University. The budding mathematician earned his doctorate in mathematics in 1965, while also getting to know the love of his life. He and Louise Dowling would later get married and stay the course nearly 60 years.

Roselle wasn't done distinguishing himself.

His new degree in hand, he rose through the ranks as a mathematics professor at the University of Maryland, Louisiana State University and Virginia Tech. By 1975, his son wrote, he was appointed secretary of the Mathematical Association of America. Roselle was becoming a highly regarded mathematician as his career grew, with numerous publications and recognitions.

He became a dean. Then, he became provost of Virginia Tech, while he was helping raise two children of his own.

After over a decade in that town of Blacksburg, Virginia, Roselle was selected to run the University of Kentucky as its ninth president in '87. The leader stepped into a blooming basketball scandal, later praised for his handling of the investigations and eventually named the Kentucky Sportsman of the Year in 1989.

That investigation found numerous violations — including a coach paying money to the father of a recruit and another player cheating on a college entrance exam, as reported by the Louisville Courier Journal — and resulted in the team's banning from postseason play for two years and from TV appearances for one year.

In a statement on Monday, current UK President Eli Capilouto called Roselle an “outstanding leader in higher education” who had “a profoundly important and positive impact” on the university.

By 1990, though, he had a new posting. The leadership powerhouse and family man was headed to the First State.

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From Dr. Roselle, to 'GoDad'

The University of Delaware needed a 25th president. Roselle was it.

He deeply loved Delaware's largest university, according to family, and led the Newark-rooted institution through major capital campaigns and marked growth. Over a 17-year tenure, he would see the university's endowment balloon from $360 million to $1.4 billion.

“We are all saddened to learn of the passing of David Roselle, and on behalf of the entire UD community, my wife, Eleni, and I extend our sympathies to his wife, Louise, and their family and all those who knew and worked with him during his impactful tenure at the University," said President Dennis Assanis in a statement Monday.

"President Roselle advanced UD’s academic and research excellence while developing our campus infrastructure during a time of tremendous digital growth. David and Louise were deeply committed to the arts, as well. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members all continue to benefit from his enduring legacy of service to UD. Indeed, we are a stronger, more vibrant institution today because of the leadership and dedication of President Roselle.”

He stayed close after UD retirement in 2007.

Roselle sought an interim role, already nearing his 70s, at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, and it turned out to be a better fit than he anticipated. He served as executive director of the American estate and museum in northern New Castle County for 10 years.

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But even with his accolades, even after his retirement from full-time work at 79, his greatest accomplishments came out of the office.

Roselle gave his family all the time he didn't devote to the institutions he was charged to lead, his son said.

He found joy in watching and hearing about the lives of his children — as well as their children, who called their granddad "GoDad" as a beloved nickname. He loved golf, and his favorite outings brought together family, laughs and great summer evenings. Roselle brought the same happy, humble attitude to work as he did to every situation, with Louise at his side.

He is survived by her; their son, Arthur, and his wife, Paige; their daughter, Cynthia Koenig, and her husband, Trevor; and their five grandchildren, Charles Roselle, David Roselle, Faye Roselle, Trevor Koenig and John Koenig. He is also survived by his sister, Sue Ellen; her daughter, Beth Brown; his sister-in-law, Marsha Roselle; and her son Paul Roselle.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Former University of Delaware president David Roselle dies at 84