Obituary of Robert Frank Lusch

Robert Frank Lusch, 68, of Tucson, AZ, passed away on February 23, 2017, at Kanmar Place Hospice, Tucson, AZ, after a courageous battle against bladder cancer. He was born on January 21, 1949, to Frank and Katharina (Muller) Lusch in Grosse Pointe, MI. In 1960, he moved with his family to Tucson. He was a 1967 graduate of Tucson High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1971 from the University of Arizona, followed by his MBA in 1972. In 1975, he earned his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and joined the faculty at the University of Oklahoma. During his career as a professor, he also served on the faculties of Arizona State University, Texas Christian University, and the University of Arizona. In addition to being an internationally recognized researcher and teacher, he also served as the Dean of the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma from 1987 to 1992, and as the Dean of the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University from 2000 to 2006. In 2006, he returned to his hometown of Tucson where he remained until his death. Robert is survived by his loving spouse of 40 years, Virginia (Newell) Lusch; his two sisters, Marion Bachrach of Henderson, NV, and Nancy Leubner of Mesa, AZ; his three children, Heather Ford (and husband Greg) of Mesa, AZ, Stephen Lusch of Lawrence, KS, and Mark Lusch (and wife Katie) of Eden Prairie, MN; his four grandchildren John and Jacob Ford of Mesa, AZ, and Hannah and Natalie Lusch of Eden Prairie, MN; and his two nephews, William Omann of Henderson, NV, and Andrew Leubner (and wife Sarah) of Tempe, AZ. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Stephen Lusch, and his mother, Katharina (Muller) Lusch. Visitation and rosary will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Adair Dodge Chapel, Tucson, AZ. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, March 3, 2017, at 10:00am at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Burial will take place at Holy Hope Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Robert suggested that memorial donations be made to a religious, educational, and/or cancer research charity of your choice.