Larry Dlugosh, 83, emeritus chairperson and professor of educational administration, died April 17.
Dlugosh was a lifelong advocate for public education. He served in educator and administrator roles in public school districts in Bennington, Elkhorn, Springfield-Platteview and Grand Island before joining the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1990. He retired as chair of the Department of Educational Administration in 2011 after 46 years in public education, including 22 years in the College of Education and Human Sciences.
Dlugosh was active on the boards of a number of different community organizations throughout his lifetime. In addition to leading the UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association, he served on the St. Francis (Grand Island) Hospital Board, was chairman of the board for Bryan College of Health Sciences, and was a longtime member of the Heartland Center for Leadership Development.
He was named the outstanding young educator for the Nebraska Jaycees in 1989, and recognized by the Nebraska Council for School Administrators with the Distinguished Service Award in 1997. In 2010, Dlugosh was recognized as a Distance Education Pioneer during a campuswide celebration of National Distance Learning Week for his contributions to the campus community in the area of online and distance education. Dlugosh also received a 2025 Wisherd Award for Outstanding Service to the university from the Emeriti and Retirees Association.
Dlugosh and his wife, Janee, prioritized traveling the world, visiting more than 40 countries and all seven continents. He was an engaging individual whose quick wit and easy smile made him someone that people enjoyed. With his commitment to learning about the world, he supported many different international students by providing housing, offering invitations to dinner, and extending to them his friendship.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Dlugosh is survived by his wife, Janee; daughter, Jadi (Dan) Miller of Elkhorn; son, Jason (Brooke) Dlugosh of Lincoln; and grandchildren, Noah (Kate) Miller of Austin, Ethan Miller of Elkhorn, and Savannah Dlugosh of Lincoln.
A celebration of life was held at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Lincoln on April 24. Memorials are suggested to the University of Nebraska Foundation — The Larry and Janee Dlugosh Educational Advancement Fund, Bryan College for Health Sciences Foundation for scholarships, or St. Paul United Methodist Church.
