Tributes

MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D.

“John DiBiaggio was a true advocate for inclusion, service to others and, most of all, equitable access to higher education. His legacy is still felt on the banks of our Red Cedar and will be for generations to come. Our most sincere condolences go out to his family during this difficult time.” 

Peter McPherson, MSU’s 19th president and current president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities

“John was a great Spartan who worked hard for the university. He was a national leader in public higher education and served as chair of the APLU Board of Directors in the 1980s. He leaves behind many friends.”

Lawrence S. Bacow, 29th president of Harvard University and 12th president of Tufts University

“I was very fortunate to have succeeded John DiBiaggio as president of Tufts. He was extraordinarily generous with both his time and his wisdom, and he gave me great advice that I have passed on to many people over the years: Always do the right thing. That simple imperative shined through in John’s leadership of three of the country’s great universities. American higher education is stronger today for his many efforts, and I am proud to have known him and to have called him not only a mentor and a colleague but also a friend.”

MSU Trustee Melanie Foster

“John was driven by the highest standards of professionalism in higher education. He was a tireless worker committed to enforcing ethics and gender equity in college athletics, and he had a charismatic personality that resonated with students."

U. S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow

"As president of Michigan State University, John DiBiaggio was a passionate advocate for land-grant universities and the important role they play in research and service to others. Under his leadership, the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory—the predecessor of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams—was created. In these ways and so many more, Dr. DiBiaggio's legacy lives on. My deepest condolences are with his family, his friends and the MSU community."

James Blanchard, Michigan’s 45th governor, former ambassador to Canada and an MSU alumnus

“Along with Spartan Nation, I am sad to hear about the loss of former President John DiBiaggio. We all have fond memories of him and his commitment to MSU. We have lost a champion of higher education and of this special Spartan community that we all care for.”

MSU Trustee Emerita Dee Cook

“I have had the privilege of knowing John since we were kids; we grew up together and graduated from Detroit’s Denby High School. It was many years after graduation before our paths crossed again as we worked together on MSU’s first-ever capital campaign. John’s leadership capabilities, honesty and Midwest roots helped make that campaign the success it was and open the doors of possibility to young people in Michigan and across the country. It was my privilege to work alongside him during my time with the university — both as a volunteer and trustee. MSU is a better and stronger institution because of his leadership and dedication to higher education.”

MaryLee Davis, former executive assistant to the president and secretary of the MSU Board of Trustees

“Each day, I witnessed firsthand John’s sincere compassion, charisma and true leadership that paved the way for MSU’s continued growth and the growth of higher education. His legacy to the university, this state and our nation will be his service to people and his ability to inspire them to work harder each day to make our society better.”

University of Massachusetts President Martin T. Meehan

“Appointed to the Board by Governor Mitt Romney in 2003, John was an exemplary higher education leader who drew on his experiences growing up in Detroit and being the first in his family to attend college. He was the epitome of a public servant – humble and selfless, strategic and ethical, and always working to expand access to higher education. A mentor at heart, he spent a great deal of this time and energy, via the American Council on Education fellows, working to develop new higher education leaders. His impact on higher education has been and will continue to be felt nationwide. On behalf of the entire University of Massachusetts community of students, faculty, staff and alumni, I send my sincere condolences to John’s family, friends and colleagues.”