Associate provost dies of cancer

The University lost one of its most prized administrators Sunday night to a five-year battle with lymphomic cancer.

Lipschutz

Susan Lipschutz, associate provost for academic affairs, died Sunday at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. Lipschutz, 53, fought a courageous battle against the illness, which required her to receive a bone marrow transplant two years ago.

"Susan was one of the most important people in the University administration," said Provost J. Bernard Machen. "She took on the toughest jobs and was able to solve problems other people couldn't.

"We never thought of her as ill," Machen added. "She never, ever complained about her personal problems."

As an administrator, Lipschutz's impact extended beyond the confines of the Fleming Administration Building, serving as a mentor to female administrators, faculty and graduate students.

In October 1994, Lipschutz and Vice Provost for Health Affairs Rhetaugh Dumas formed a group called the Senior Women Administrators - a network and support group for senior female administrators.

"We counted on Susan to go to bat for women's issues behind the scenes in the Fleming building," said Connie Cook, director of the Center for Research, Learning and Teaching. "Everyone respected her intelligence, grace and diplomacy. We will miss her greatly."

Katharine Soper, an executive assistant in the provost's office, described her as "gracious, caring and very confident."

"She was always willing to talk to people and she had a wonderful sense of humor that would come up in subtle ways that would make you smile," Soper said. "She'd been in fragile health, but she's such a trooper."

Lipschutz continued to report to work even though she was ill. When she finished her day's work at Fleming on Friday evening, she left with the good news that her appointment as associate provost would be renewed at this week's meeting of the University Board of Regents.

Her colleagues reported nothing unusual about Lipschutz on Friday afternoon, which made the news of her death especially shocking to those who worked with her.

"She had gone for treatment Friday morning, but she was in great spirits," Soper said. "She was just her usual self."

Lipschutz received a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University in 1969. She attended Smith College for her undergraduate education.

Her academic teaching career began at the University of Denver, where she taught in the philosophy department. In 1981, she returned to the University and served as an assistant to former President Harold Shapiro until 1986.

She was named associate Rackham dean in 1986 and was promoted to senior associate dean in 1989. She also taught as an adjunct associate professor of philosophy during that time.

In 1993, she was named assistant vice provost for academic affairs, where she worked to strengthen training programs for graduate student instructors and examined the experiences of first-year students.

"She really cared about the students," said Vice President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford. "Her own education meant so much to her that she worked hard to help students reach the goals they set for themselves."

Services will be held at 3:30 p.m. today at the Ira Kaufman Chapel in Southfield. Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan Lipschutz Fund for Women Graduate Students at the dean's office in Rackham.

04-15-97