Alan Tucker dies

Alan Tucker, 56, vice provost for Faculty Affairs, drowned Jan.

6 while on vacation with his wife and friends in Playa del Carmen,

Mexico.

“Alan was a person who treated everyone with friendship and

respect,” said Peter Nicholls, provost/academic vice president.

“Many people on this campus have not only lost a trusted colleague,

but a dear friend.”

Tucker is survived by his wife, Melissa, his father Philip, two

children, two grandchildren, five nieces and one nephew.

Joining CSU in 1979 as an associate professor of physiology,

Tucker served at CSU for nearly 25 years. During his tenure, he

served as assistant dean and associate dean in the College of

Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, department head of

physiology and on several faculty leadership committees.

Tucker was appointed interim vice provost for Faculty Affairs in

June 2001, a position made permanent in July 2002.

During his time as vice provost, Tucker oversaw many university

responsibilities, including faculty personnel affairs, diversity

initiatives, academic program reviews, indicators, budgets, grants

and contracts, and life sciences initiatives.

“His work and accomplishments were very impressive,” Nicholls

said. “But people absolutely loved Alan Tucker because of his

personality and the way he could relate to people. You felt special

when you were around him. He brought out the best in people.”

Scott Tucker, Alan Tucker’s son, described his father as an

extremely brilliant individual with a quick, dry wit. He was

athletic and loved the mountains. He enjoyed participating in

sports, including soccer and bike riding and liked to watch the

Rams during their football season, Scott Tucker said.

“I went to Boulder for college and during the 1986 season, when

CSU won the football game, my dad tracked me down at a friend’s

house who had an unlisted number just to tell me that CU were

getting their butts kicked,” Scott Tucker said. “He was a neat, fun

man who will be greatly missed, especially by his family.”