Longtime Niagara University president dies at 85

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Longtime Niagara University President Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., who served as the leader of the school for over a decade, died on Sunday at age 85, the school announced.

Levesque served as the president of Niagara from 2000-2013. During his time at NU, the school built the Thomas Golisano Center for Integrated Sciences, the 56,000 square-foot Academic Complex and Bisgrove Hall and renovated two on-campus theatres as well as the admissions center.

"Father Levesque leaves a tremendous legacy, which impacted everyone who had the chance to meet him,” Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., the current president of Niagara University, said in a statement Monday. “He will be forever remembered for his faith-filled legacy of pastoral care, his leadership of the Province and Niagara University, and his never-ending commitment to service of the poor and the oppressed."

Levesque began teaching at Niagara in 1970 and returned in 1978 after receiving his doctorate. He returned to seminary work in 1986 and worked outside of Niagara until 1999.

He was the fourth longest-tenured president in the school's history. He was named as president emeritus following his retirement.