The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences have issued the following statement on the passing of J. Lloyd Huck.
The Huck Institutes are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and benefactor J. Lloyd Huck.
Lloyd Huck was a visionary; he saw the need for interdisciplinary science -- how important it was to bring multiple disciplines to the table and train the next generation if we are going to address key issues of the day, particularly those associated with biomedicine.
Indeed, right up to the end he had been an active member of a small working group looking to see how we, Penn State, could help the new medical students that had recently begun studying at the Mount Nittany Medical Center.
Lloyd went further than anyone else -- he not only gave his energy and attended graduate classes, but he invested his money in the future and through his remarkably generous philanthropy has helped to build the life sciences at Penn State.
We are proud that our Institutes of the Life Sciences bear his name.
It is not easy to assess the impact that his level of support and philanthropy has had on this University, but without question it has been transformative.
Many of our activities involved Lloyd at one level or another, and through his generosity his legacy and contribution will live on.
"Lloyd was a truly magnificent person in every respect, and his charm and humility dominated all discussions," said Peter Hudson, director of the Huck Institutes. "He will be sorely missed as a mentor, friend and supporter."
Lloyd graduated from the Penn State in 1943 with a degree in Chemistry, and later served as a Trustee Emeritus of the Board of Trustees and a President of that Board.
He was also a member of the University's Grand Destiny Campaign steering committee, and donated over $40 million to Penn State in support of teaching, research, and other academic activities in the Huck Institutes and across the University.
"Lloyd was unparalleled in his recognition of the importance of interdisciplinary research and its value to Penn State," said Dan Larson, Dean of the Eberly College of Science at Penn State.
"As a direct result of Lloyd's unwavering leadership and commitment to championing the cause of research at the Huck Institutes and other partnering institutions at Penn State, we are leaders among the world's top research universities," said Hank Foley, Vice President for Research at Penn State.
In recognition of Lloyd's and Dottie's leadership and generosity in support of the life sciences at Penn State, the Life Science Consortium was renamed in 2002 as the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Institute for Life Sciences, and later as the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. In 2007, the Hucks’ made an additional $20 million commitment, and the Life Sciences Building was renamed the Huck Life Sciences Building in their honor in 2012.
“Few institutions are fortunate enough to have such visionary advocates as Lloyd and Dottie Huck,” said President Rodney A. Erickson. “Through Lloyd’s decades of service to the University, he guided Penn State on an ambitious path, and through the Hucks’ philanthropy, they have enabled our students and faculty to fulfill that ambition. Lloyd’s belief in the potential of the life sciences to transform our world and in the potential of Penn State to be a leader in the field will continue to inspire our students and faculty for many years to come.”
After graduating from Penn State, Lloyd began his career as a research chemist for Hoffmann-La Roche. In 1958, Lloyd joined the Merck Sharp & Dome division of Merck & Co. as a Director of Marketing. He became Vice President of Marketing Planning in 1966 and subsequently Vice President for Sales & Marketing, Executive Vice President and then President of the Division in 1973.
In 1975, Lloyd was named a Senior Vice President of Merck & Co. He then went on to become Executive Vice President in 1977 and then President and Chief Operating Officer in 1978. He was named Chairman of the Board in 1985, one year prior to his retirement in 1986.
After retiring from Merck, Lloyd joined the Board of Nova Pharmaceutical Corporation where he served for several years as Chairman before retiring in 1991.
Lloyd had also served on the Boards of Amstar Corporation, AMF, Amoco, and the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company where he was also Chairman.
"Lloyd was a total delight, and was very helpful to me and to many others," added Peter Hudson. "Penn State and all of us in the life sciences have lost a truly wonderful friend.”
To read Huck's full obituary, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/63119.