Marquette University mourns the loss of David Fantle, adjunct professor in the Diederich College of Communication. Fantle died on Tuesday, April 21, at the age of 66.
Fantle joined Marquette as an adjunct professor in 2009, spending 18 years teaching primarily classes on media writing and film and popular culture. Over the course of his time at Marquette, Fantle taught well over 1,200 students across dozens of individual classes. He was a recipient of the dean’s award for part-time faculty members in the College of Communication in spring 2025.
In addition to his time with Marquette, Fantle had a four-decade career in marketing and communication, including senior positions in organizations such as VISIT Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and the United Performing Arts Fund. Fantle was a frequent speaker on cruise ships and at retirement facilities, presenting on subjects ranging from television’s favorite sleuths to the Golden Age stars of Hollywood.
Fantle co-authored the book “Hollywood Heyday: 75 Candid Interviews with Golden Age Legends,” which was published in 2018. The book included profiles of silver screen luminaries such as Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, Debbie Reynolds and George Burns. Fantle and his co-author, Tom Johnson, personally met with every person they included in the book.
Fantle earned his bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota in 1983.
“Losing Professor Fantle is a blow for our whole college,” said Dr. Sarah Feldner, dean of the Diederich College of Communication. “While we are grieving his loss, we are gratified to know that the impact he made on hundreds of students will live on well into the future. He will be sorely missed.”
The family will hold a funeral at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 at Congregation Sinai, 8223 North Port Washington Road in Milwaukee, followed by interment at Greenwood Cemetery. Shiva services will be held Thursday night and Saturday night in Milwaukee and then next week in the Minneapolis area.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in David’s honor to the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC) and the Diederich College of Communication.
The Marquette community holds the Fantle family, including his wife, Cathy, and his children Grace, Maddie and Max, in its prayers.
