News

70s

Peter Baum, Ph.D. ’71

February 2024

Eric Hinz ’75

January 2024

Steven Niethamer ’70

December 2023

80s

Deborah Golino, Ph.D. ’87

December 2023

Kendall Mallory, M.S. ’86, Ph.D. ’90

February 2024

00s

Tera Letzring, M.A. ’02, Ph.D. ’05

January 2024

Udoka Obadike ’09

March 2024

Donald Edwards

(1927-2024)

A former head baseball coach and chair of UCR’s physical education department, Edwards was instrumental in developing the first Highlanders baseball team in the mid-1950s. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Edwards attended Western Michigan University and was a leading pitcher for its baseball team. He later signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and played in the minor leagues for five years. In 1956, Edwards joined UCR,  establishing the campus’ first baseball field and serving as head coach for 10 years. He retired from the university in 1989 after a 30-year career. Edwards started the popular Riverside Baseball Invitational in 1967and served as director for 15 years. He also coached the U.S. National Team in the Pan American Games in 1976, and in 1994, he was elected to the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was inducted into the UCR Athletics Hall of Fame. Edwards died March 7 at the age of 96. He is survived by his brother, three children, and three grandchildren.

Daniel Hantman

(1942-2024)

An attorney and prominent member of the Riverside community, Hantman was a longtime supporter of UCR’s School of Medicine. He attended UC Berkeley and UCLA before joining the Peace Corps for several years. After returning, he earned a law degree from the San Fernando Valley College of Law, specializing in elder law. He was a member of the Riverside County Bar Association and served as president for one term. He promoted local high school mock trial programs and encouraged community leaders to serve as judges, coaches, and supporters in annual competitions. As a member of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, Hantman volunteered extensively, supporting community service activities such as the Adopt-AStreet litter pick-up program and the annual Mission Inn Festival of Lights in downtown Riverside. He died Feb. 14 at the age of 82. He is survived by his partner, Marcia Gilman, and two siblings.

Victor David Lippit

(1938-2024)

An influential economist who taught at UCR for more than 40 years, Lippit began his career as an expert on the Chinese economy but later turned his focus to the analysis of contemporary capitalism. Lippit received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University and worked for several years as a portfolio analyst at Merrill Lynch before returning to school and obtaining a master’s degree and doctorate in economics from Yale University. He joined UCR as an assistant professor in 1971 and retired as a full professor in 2012. Lippit’s early research on the economic development of China was influential among both economists and China scholars. He later expanded his field of study, including the role of economic surplus in the development process and the different forms of capitalism. Lippit wrote three books on economics and served for many years on the editorial board of the Review of Radical Political Economics. Lippit died Jan. 10 at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his sister; five children; a stepdaughter; and 14 grandchildren.

Larry Reynolds

(1952-2024)

A former student-athlete and then assistant coach of the UCR men’s basketball team, Reynolds left an influential legacy before going on to successfully lead several college basketball programs. During his time playing for the Highlanders from 1973 to 1976, the team won two West Regional championships and he was voted the most valuable player for the 1974-1975 season by the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Reynolds graduated from UCR in 1976 with a degree in Urban Studies and began his coaching career in 1979, serving as lead assistant and later associate head coach until 1995. During his tenure, the Highlanders earned eight CCAA titles, three West Regional titles, and 10 NCAA Tournament bids. Reynolds later went on to become the head coach at Cal State San Bernardino, Stanislaus State, and Long Beach State. A four-time CCAA Coach of the Year Award winner, Reynolds was inducted into the UCR Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996. Reynolds died Jan. 28 at the age of 71. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie; two siblings; and a godson and goddaughter.

Return to UCR Magazine: Spring 2024