The Marquette University community mourns the loss of a close friend and significant benefactor, Dick Strong, who passed away on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Dick’s support for Marquette University and its men’s basketball program spanned more than half a century, beginning during the early years of the Al McGuire era, extending through the 2003 Final Four run under Head Coach Tom Crean and continuing under the leadership of Head Coach Shaka Smart.
Reflecting on his selection as the 2022 recipient of Marquette’s Friend of the University Award as part of Marquette’s Alumni National Awards, Strong said in an interview, “My dream is for Marquette to be one of the great universities in the world. Basketball is one wonderful vehicle for that to happen. I consider it a great privilege to be involved with Marquette.”
Much of Strong’s commitment to Marquette took place outside the spotlight.
“Dick was a loyal and generous friend to Marquette throughout his life. We especially admired his quiet generosity and the many ways he supported our university behind the scenes, without seeking recognition,” said Marquette University President Kimo Ah Yun. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Donna, and the entire Strong family during this difficult time.”
Strong’s decades of support helped advance Marquette basketball and its impact on the university as a whole.
“Dick Strong believed deeply in the transformative power of Marquette basketball,” said Mike Broeker, vice president and director of athletics. “He saw our program as a catalyst for positive change, creating opportunities for students and helping elevate the entire university. His legacy will be felt for generations to come.”
Beyond his remarkable support for Marquette, Strong forged lasting friendships with those who knew him personally.
“Dick was first and foremost an extremely loving and loyal friend to so many of us. His loss creates an incredible void. What I will miss most is his laugh and his warm smile,” said Head Coach Shaka Smart. “Dick’s impact on Marquette and our program cannot be overstated. We benefitted from his extraordinary vision for what Marquette basketball could become and the way our success would affect people. He understood that the true measure of a program is the growth it creates in its young men and the relationships it fosters. Dick had an exuberant spirit of curiosity. He loved learning and helping people.” Every once in a while, he’d describe someone as ‘special.’ You were SPECIAL, Dick. You were one-of-a-kind. You will never be forgotten.”
