Peter Liacouras, seventh president of Temple University in Philadelphia from 1982-2000, passed away on Thursday after a long illness following a stroke he suffered in 2010. He was 85 years old. Liacouras transformed Temple University with his vision of a world-class institution with star sports teams and a classic American college experience for its students, replete with the charming green quads. Once a commuter school on North Broad Street, Temple gradually flourished under Liacouras’ nearly two decades as president. At times, his leadership was controversial, as he pushed for more diversity in the school’s faculty and student body to better reflect the diversity of the city of Philadelphia, the university’s home. Partially paralyzed by a stroke which also robbed him of speech, Liacouras was still able to watch Temple’s football team beat Penn State last fall in a historic win 74 years in the making.
“He spent his entire adult life working at Temple, hoping to help make it a better place,” son Greg said Friday. “No one fought harder, but in the end, he died peacefully, surrounded by his family.”
The son of Greek immigrants who ran a South Philadelphia grocery store, Liacouras never forgot his working class roots.
“In his short-sleeve shirts . . . he looked like he ran a pretty good neighborhood restaurant rather than a pretty good local college,” the Daily News reported upon his retirement.
Dr. Liacouras is survived by his wife, Ann Myers Liacouras, daughter Lisa, sons Greg, Stephen, and James, two sisters, three grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 N. Broad St., at 11am on Friday, May 20.