Former UW–Platteville Chancellor William Chmurny died in his San Marcos, Calif., home Oct. 16.

A private burial was held in San Marcos Oct. 23.

Chmurny, 72, served as chancellor from 1982 to 1993. One of Chmurny’s focuses as chancellor was recruiting and retaining women students on campus. He also worked to increase the facilities at UW–Platteville Pioneer Farm and helped bring the Chicago Bears to the university for their annual summer training camp.

Chmurny was born in 1941 in Oak Park, Ill. and earned his undergraduate degree in anthropology from the University of Illinois, his graduate degree in archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania, and his doctorate in anthropology and zoology from Illinois.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn (Kate), her brothers, several aunts and many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Chmurny’s family requests that memorials may be made to any universities or charities in which he was affiliated, including the UW–Platteville Foundation.