Joel Brennan started as president of Greater Milwaukee Committee in 2021, the same year Marquette president Michael Lovellwho was on the committee’s board of directors, was diagnosed with cancer.
“At that time, his health was challenged, but … he gave me guidance and was vigorous,” Brennan said. “He was someone who was always generous with his time to others in the community.
“He put the community before himself in so many ways.”
Brennan is among the leaders in Milwaukee and Wisconsin mourning Lovell, who died Sunday at age 57.
He said he admired the way Lovell integrated Marquette into the community and will remember Lovell’s demeanor, especially when faced with a challenge.
“He was always soft-spoken,” Brennan said. “He didn’t need to raise his voice to get people to side with him. He had a strong will to do what was right and just commit to making things better.”
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson called Lovell, Marquette’s president since 2014, “a great community partner.”
“His faith was deep and his commitment to service went beyond the confines of the campus. He promoted community service, worked to improve public safety, and his leadership with Near West Side Partners elevated that organization in ways that would not have been possible without him.”
Noting Lovell’s leadership at both Marquette and UW-Milwaukee, where Lovell was chancellor from 2011 to 2014, Johnson said, “Equally impressive was Mike’s kindness and humility. He was a kind person who cared deeply about Milwaukee. He served our community with distinction.”
Gov. Tony Evers said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I had great respect for Mike. He cared deeply about Milwaukee and the students and teachers he led, and I was always encouraged by his positive and professional manner. Truly a loss .”
Lovell has been involved in several community efforts. He helped create Near West Side Partners, a nonprofit focused on economic development, housing, neighborhood identity and safety in the Marquette area.
He and his wife, Amy, co-founded Expanding Well-Being in Milwaukee, a community effort designed to combat generational trauma. He served in Greater Milwaukee Committee and helped start many other organizations such as the Miidwest Energy Research Consortium, Scale-Up Milwaukee, and The Water Council.
O Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce applauded Lovell’s leadership and impact on Milwaukee.
“The future of our region is better because of your contributions,” MMAC wrote in a statement. “Our thoughts are with those who knew and admired Dr. Lovell during this difficult time.”
Dale Kooyenga, president of the MMAC, wrote in a tweet on X that the Milwaukee and Marquette community “have lost a good man and leader.”
Visit Milwaukee also extended his condolences to the Marquette University family at X: “Dr. Lovell’s work has made Milwaukee better every day.”
University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman wrote in X: “I knew Mike to be a man of great integrity and deep faith. He had an unwavering commitment to student success as president and chancellor of UWM, as well as president of Marquette. He leaves a lasting legacy.”
The Milwaukee Bucks released a statement, saying in part: “A leading voice in support of building the Fiserv Forum, President Lovell has steadfastly advocated for progress and innovation, and we will always be grateful for his long-standing friendship with the Bucks.”
John Y. Walz, president of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, expressed his condolences in an email statement.
“I have deep respect for Dr. Lovell and his unwavering commitment to improving the educational experience, promoting research and collaboration, and strengthening ties with the broader community.”
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee, state leaders mourn Marquette President Michael Lovell
