- Donald E. Kieso, 1936-2026
By Eva Richards
It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the passing of Donald E. Kieso, Ph.D., CPA, on Feb. 25, 2026, and we remember the profound and lasting impact he had on NIU students, particularly students in the College of Business.
An NIU accountancy professor who retired from NIU in 1992 after more than 30 years of teaching, Professor Kieso earned the university’s highest award for teaching and gained national recognition as the author of “Intermediate Accounting,” widely considered as the gold standard of financial accounting textbooks for over 50 years.
Kieso was chosen as the first recipient of NIU’s Teaching Excellence Award in 1967. Just five years later, at the age of 36, he was appointed as the chair of NIU’s Department of Accountancy. Kieso continued to be recognized as an outstanding educator and was awarded the Golden Apple Teaching Award four times by his students. In 1986, Kieso received the honor of becoming the holder of NIU’s first named professorship.
In 2013, Kieso and his wife Donna created the Donald and Donna Kieso Endowed Scholarship in Accountancy, which continues to provide support for NIU accountancy students.
Until his passing, Kieso held the title of KPMG Peat Marwick Emeritus Professor of Accounting in the College of Business.
“Don Kieso was an outstanding accounting educator and mentor for thousands of students and faculty,” said Brad Cripe, the Donald E. Kieso Endowed Chair in Accountancy. “His efforts contributed to the national recognition of the Department of Accountancy and the NIU College of Business that continues to this day. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Don and his family for all they have done over so many years for our students and faculty.”
Jerrold “Jerry” Zar, 1941-2026
NIU lost a beloved community member with the passing of 1962 NIU graduate and Professor Emeritus Jerry Zar, Ph.D., on April 2, 2026. He embodied the values and mission of the liberal arts and sciences — as a scientist, educator, musician, philanthropist and engaged community member, with a love of language and a commitment to the arts.
NIU was a part of Zar’s life for over six decades — first as an undergraduate, majoring in biology, then as a newly hired faculty member in 1968. In addition to his role as a tenured faculty member, he served as chair of the Department of Biological Sciences and vice provost for Graduate Studies and Research/dean of the Graduate School. He retired as professor emeritus in 2002 after 34 years of dedicated service to NIU.
Zar was active in the community as a member of Congregation Beth Shalom, Kishwaukee Health System Council, and Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, where he played trumpet for 30 years. He also played trumpet in the Kishwaukee Concert Band during its first 12 years and was a founding member of the Kishwaukee Brass Quintet.
Memorial gifts may be made to the NIU Foundation, supporting the student scholarship funds established by Zar and his wife, Carol: the Zar Scholarship in Biology, the Zar Scholarship in Science Education, the Zar Scholarship in Trumpet Studies or the Zar Scholarship in Engineering.
’44
GLADYS GRIEGER
’50
JOANNE MOODY
LORENA ROBINSON
’51
’52
’53
PATRICIA KOZIK, M.S.ED. ’67
’55
CHARLES LAPP, JR., M.S.ED.
’61
’56
BARBARA HARRIS
EDGAR PALM
JOHN TOFANO, M.S.ED., C.A.S. ’76
’57
NINA FOCKENS
’58
MARJORIE GERHARDT
EDWARD MARTIN
CAROLE NIEJADLIK
RONALD OTTOSON
PATRICIA SHUMAN
RICHARD SMITH, M.S.ED.
JARED SPEARS
EDWIN TRESNAK, M.S. ’63, ED.D. ’73
’59
MEREDITH LANGAN
LLOYD LARSON, JR.
DIANNE NYBERG
TEUNIS PAARLBERG, M.S.ED.
CHARLES RUDER
FRANCIS TRUSKY, M.S.ED. ’69
’60
HOWARD BALLWANZ, M.S. ’65
KENNETH CAMERON
DRISCOLL DREW
LOREN LUNDGREN
JULIE PERRY
MURRIEL RIEDESEL, M.S.ED. ’82
’61
CHARLES JACKSON
DAVID JORDAL, M.S.ED. ’68
DANIEL MCCULLOUGH, M.S.ED. ’71
VIRGINIA WIGHTMAN
’62
ANNE BERQUIST
JUDITH BUCKLEY
DENNIS BURMEISTER
BARBARA STEVENSON
’63
JOANNE BOPPART, M.S.ED. ’67
CAROL BRIGGS
MARILYN DICK
MICHAEL GUERIN
REX PARKER, M.B.A.
RICHARD ROBINSON, M.S.ED. ’66
ELAINE ROTH
KATHLEEN SCHIMMOLER, M.S.ED. ’82
CAROLE VAYO, M.S.ED. ’70
JAMES WILSON, M.A. ’70
PAUL WIXOM, M.S.ED.
’64
JOEL BLOOM, M.S.ED. ’65
THOMAS COMER, M.S.ED. ’67
DOROTHY GRAHAM
GENE JACKSON, M.F.A.
RUTH KREUZER
DONNARAE OMAN
DAVID READY
THOMAS THURNAU
’65
DIANE CANELLIS
SANDRA CZARNOWSKI, M.S.ED. ’71
GERALD EVERSON
CHARLES FORGUE
DIANE FRALE, M.S.ED. ’69
DORIS HOLADAY
PATRICIA KATICH
GARY KRAHENBUHL, M.S.ED. ’66, PH.D. ’69
RICHARD LENERTZ
LYNN MCCANN
NANCY MELOWITZ
ROBERT MIRSHAK, M.M.
WILLIAM PETERSON, M.S.ED.
VIRGINIA SCHUBERT
CLYDE TYSON, M.A.
JAMES WILDHABER
CHARLES WILLIAMS, JR., M.S. ’68
’66
VELMA DYSART, M.S.ED., M.S.ED. ’67
DONNA LACROIX, M.S. ’72
EDWARD MURNANE
RICHARD NALLY, M.S.ED. ’70
RICHARD POCES
SUSAN RAMELLI
CHERYL STORMS
GARY WINKLER, M.B.A. ’68
’67
JAMES BINDER, M.S.ED., C.A.S. ’76
RICHARD BYRNE
MARGARET COCKBILL, M.A.
CHERI DAY, M.S.ED., ’74
JOANNE GRAMPP
LUCETTE HELD, M.S.ED. ’69
CRAIG HOFFMAN, M.S.ED.
DANIEL JOHNSON
GERALD MATYUS, M.S.ED.
BRUCE PECKA, M.S.ED. ’68
KATHLEEN STOVER, M.S.ED. ’70
PAUL WHEELER
’68
WILLIAM BAJORAT, M.S.ED. ’73
CAROL BOCKENCZAK
JOYCE DANEK
PAUL HEGELE, M.S.ED.
RONALD KEGLEY
RICHARD KEMP
DONALD KETTLEBOROUGH
ROBERT LABUDA
JOHN LEINWEBER
TRACY MARSH JR., M.S.ED. ’73
JAMES OBERG, M.S.ED.
WALTER PETERSON
DONALD PORTER
PAKINEE PORTMORE, M.B.A.
DAVID RYAN
KENNETH STATTMAN
JUNE STOWE, M.A. ’72
MARY TOPP
’69
WAYNE DEMAAR, M.S.ED.
CHRISTINE FALTZ, M.S.ED. ’71
GLEN FEILEN
JAMES HAY
CHARLOTTE MANIS, M.S.ED.
THOMAS MCKEAN
RUSSELL MISRENDINO
KAREN PATTY-GRAHAM
JOYCE PIERCE, M.S.ED.
JOAN RACHOWICZ
ALDONA RISKUS
SUSAN RODRIGUEZ
STEPHEN SAUER
JANE SMITH, M.A. ’80
MARGARET THEOBALD
JAMES UHLRICH, M.B.A.
VALERIE WATSON
’70
MARGARET GARDNER
JAMES GILLESPIE, M.A., M.F.A. ’71
WILLIAM GRICE III
RUSSELL JABLONSKI
JUDSON LUSHER, M.S.ED. ’73
THOMAS MAHONEY, M.S. ’72
JUDY MAGNUSON
GARY MCBRIDE
DANIEL PETERSEN
MARIJEAN RIBORDY
GORDON SHAW, M.B.A.
ROBERT SMETANA
JOAN WITTRUP
’71
JERRY BOWKER, M.F.A.
JODY GOFF
SIMONE JOHNSON
GERALD MORTENSEN
STEPHEN NORVILAS, M.S.ED. ’72
ROGER PRINCE, M.S.
KENNETH RABIDEAU, M.S.
JEFFERSON SPENCER, M.B.A.
RICHARD STUPKA, M.S. ’75
WILLIAM THOMAS, M.B.A.
PHILIP TROHA
MARY VARGAS, M.S. ’72
MICHAEL WOOLSEY
DAVID YOUNGBLUT
’72
KENNETH ANDERSON
CHARLES “BOB” CARTER, M.B.A.
CRAIG “MIKE” CLAYTON
LAWRENCE CONWAY
STEPHEN FULLER
ELIZABETH HILLSTROM, M.A. ’74, PH.D. ’76
JUDITH JOLLY, M.S.ED. ’77
RICHARD KELLER, PH.D.
RODERICK LEEZER
GAYLE MCDANIEL, M.S.ED. ’78
THEODORE “NIK” NIKODEM
MARY ROSENBERRY
MARION “MARTY” SZCZECH, M.B.A.
JOHN VICHA, M.S.ED. ’72, C.A.S. ’76
’73
WILLIAM CARLSON
DONALD CARR
JAMES CONAWAY, M.S.
KATHLEEN EAGER, M.A. ’74
ERNEST GIBSON, M.S.ED., C.A.S. ’76, ED.D. ’83
JOHN “TOM” GIBSON, M.S.ED.
WILLIAM HARPER
SUSAN LENINGER, M.S.ED. ’00
PATRICIA MARTIN, M.A.
CAROLYN NEWMAN
BERNARD POWERS
DARRELL RICHARDSON
WAYNE ZITZKA
’74
MARY HELEN DANAHER, C.A.S.
PATTI ENGLISH, M.S., M.S. ’76
DAWN ERICKSEN
DIANA FORBES
BARBARA FOX, M.S.ED. ’84
JACQUELINE “J.J.” FRANK
DAVID GRASS, M.S.ED. ’81
NANCY GIBBLE
RICHARD HAGEDORN, M.S. ’75
TIMOTHY HOLT, M.S.ED. ’76
JOSEPH KEMPIN
MARY “PAT” LAWLER
JOSEPH LUCARELLI
THOMAS MCVITTIE
ELIZABETH MUROS
ROBERT ROGERS, M.S.ED.
KRISTI THOMPSON HOAG
’75
EDWARD KLINGBERG, M.S.ED., ’79
MAUREEN “MIMI” MOTRONI
DIANE STRAND, M.A. ’84
MARTHA SWAN
TIMOTHY TROJNAR
’76
ARTHUR ARENDALL
JOAN ATHERTON, M.S.ED.
PATRICIA CULVER
LINDA EICHHORST
MICHAEL GYORKOS
SUSAN LEWIS
STEVEN LIPES
JOHN LODOLCE, M.S.ED.
SANDRA PARRINI, M.S.ED.
PATRICK RHODY, M.S.ED.
JOHN SLEDGE
SCOTT SPRAGUE
PAUL WENSON
’77
WALLACE HJELMBERG
BEVERLY KRESS
VITO LENTINI
PATRICIA MAXWELL
JULIA “CARLEEN” PRESLEY
RITA RARIDON
WILLIAM SCHULZ
RITA WOLZ-SOVA, M.S.
’78
JANETTE BELUE-WILSON
STEVEN BIAGINI
ROBERT BLIM
DAVID GRAHAM
DAVID HENDERSON, M.A. ’82
BETTY KELLEY
WILLIAM KENNEY, M.A. ’86
DARRYL LENOIR
GORDON RICHARDS, JR.
ROCHELLE SANTOPOALO, M.S.
LARRY TURNER
CAROL WEAVER, M.S.
’79
JAMES BRYANT
JUDITH CULVER
MICHAEL DEBARTOLO, J.D.
JARED HIMES
CANDIS LARSON
DONALD NORDTVEDT, C.A.S.
MARCIA SCHROCK
JOAN “KATHY” SWAIN, M.A.
’80
GAIL KUSHNIR
GAMBA MORONFOLU, M.S. ’82
MARTI PIPER
ARLEEN STAHL, M.S. ’84, PH.D. ’96
RUTH WRATE, M.S.ED.
’81
JAMIE SLOAN
THERESE WEISS, M.S.
’82
ANTHONY FILKO, M.A.S. ’83
LARRY LIGHTBODY, M.A.
BRUCE SIEGEL
’83
RANDOLPH HORNER
MICHAEL MCCLELLAN
ELAINE MURRAY, M.A.
MARY REID
’84
JOAN CURTIN, M.S.ED.
PAUL FEYEREISEN
JAMES MURRAY JR.
GARY VAN DYKE
WILLIAM VERVEN, M.B.A.
’85
KIMBERLY BARRY
JACQUELINE CONNOLLY, ED.D.
WILLIAM HOLLAND, J.D.
MARY KRCHMA
JAY ST. JOHN, ED.D.
’86
COREEN CASSIDY
JOHN COLLINS
KARIN SETTERQUIST, M.S.ED.
ANDREW SNARSKI
GINA UNGER
’87
GEORGE JACOB
JAMES KRUEGER
EDWARD KUHN
JUDY SWEET
’88
PATRICIA GREEN
JAY SCHAFER
BETTY WELLAND, ED.D.
’89
TERRY FOX
MARK GATSAKOS, M.S.ED., ED.D. ’04
JEANNE HOPE
TINA KRIEGER
WILLIAM MICHAUX III
MARTHA RATZER, M.B.A.
MARY ELLEN TAPP
’90
ROBERT MARTIN
ROBERT STEARNS
ROBERT TOKAR
DAWN WAGNER
’91
PHILIP REICHENBACH, M.A.
’92
LAWRENCE COLLINS JR.
JOHN FENILI, ED.D.
PRISCILLA LANDSEE
HELENA MAUCERI, PH.D.
MICHAEL OBERTS
GEORGIA PRICE
’93
GARY NUERNBERGER, ED.D.
’94
RICHARD NENDZA
’95
JOAN HARTMAN, M.S.ED.
BRIAN MANGANO
CASANDRA REICHER
NEIL WEIR
’96
SHARON RASCHKE, M.P.A.
’97
DEANNA CRAWFORD
DAVID FINLEY
’99
’00
ELAINE DAVIES, M.A. ’03
’01
JEFFERY GERARD, M.S.ED.
KEVIN LARSON
AIMEE SIEMS
’02
PATRICK MORELAND, M.F.A.
’03
’04
’05
LYDIA TREGANZA
’06
NICOLE KUKLA
’07
FRANCISCO VELAZQUEZ
ELLEN WRIGHT
’08
’10
’14
’18
’19
’20
Faculty, Staff & Friends
TURKI ALAZEMI
KATHLEEN ANDERSON
JAMES ARCO
PRISCILLA BAZSALI
PATRICIA BIRKEY
ROBERT BOSTON
PATRICK BRADLEY
DUANE BUTLER
ANGELITA CALLO
TRISHA CONNER
THEODORE COWEN III
JOANNE CURL
PAUL DREISKE
JENIFER FIORNOI
MICHAEL FLANIGAN
MICHAEL GALL
JAMES GILES
JOHN GOFF
LEAH HALLARON
MARCIA HALVERSON
THOMAS HAPEMAN
JUSTIN HARRIS
SUE HEIMBURGER
VIRGINIA JOHNSON
LESLIE JONES
STEVEN KAMPEN
MADELINE KEPNER
DONALD KIESO
JIM KRON
LEAH “FAYE” KYGER
IVY LOMOTEY
KATHERINE LOVDAHL
JUDITH MALONEY
GAYLE MAXEY
JACK “FARLEY” MCFARLAND
PETER MCLAUGHLIN
MATTHEW MURRAY
BARBARA OGLE
PATRICIA O’MALLEY
WALTER PREISSING
LLOYD RICHARDSON
LOUISE RILEY
DONALD ROSENTRETER
BETTY ROSS
PHILIP SINGLER
DAVID THIL
STANLEY TRAIL
WILLIAM VANDE MERKT
DANNY WARNER
ANN WASMAN
HAROLD WRIGHT
DENNIS ZAVETT
We honor and remember all our beloved alumni, family and friends who have passed away. For a more complete list, we invite you to visit legacy.com to browse by college. Please submit a class note to notify us of the passing of a fellow Huskie.