In Memoriam

July 14, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 19)

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Retired faculty member, AWRI director emeritus
Ron Ward, the director emeritus of the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute and one of the chief catalysts toward its establishment, died on July 3, 2026. He was 88.

Ward devoted 35 years of service to Grand Valley as a biology faculty member, aquatic ecologist and researcher whose vision helped establish and expand the Annis Water Resources Institute into one of the nation’s leading freshwater research organizations.

"The AWRI is forever indebted to Dr. Ward for his visionary leadership,” said Stuart Jones, AWRI’s executive director. “He laid the foundation for everything AWRI has become, transforming a bold idea into a preeminent center for research and stewardship of Michigan's waterways and the Great Lakes. His commitment to science, education and collaboration established a legacy that continues to guide our work and inspire future generations."

Ward joined Grand Valley's biology faculty in 1966, shortly after receiving a doctoral degree from Johns Hopkins University. 

His role in shaping the university's water research enterprise began even before the institute formally existed. In 1965, Indianapolis businessman Donald J. Angus donated his diesel-powered yacht to Grand Valley. Inspired by the vision of then-President James H. Zumberge, Ward recognized the vessel's potential as a platform for research and teaching.

Renamed the Angus, the vessel became the foundation of what would eventually become GVSU’s Water Resources Institute. As public interest in environmental science and water ecology grew during the late 1960s, so did opportunities for research on Michigan's waterways.

In 1970, Ward led one of Grand Valley's first major environmental research projects, studying the city of Wyoming's wastewater treatment plant. The project helped demonstrate the value of applied water research and strengthened the university's growing reputation in the field.

After two decades in service, the Angus was retired and Ward secured its replacement, the D.J. Angus, in 1985. That same year, he chaired a 20-member faculty task force that recommended establishing a dedicated water resources institute. When the institute was established in 1986, Ward became its first director. He guided its early growth as it expanded from the biology offices in Loutit Hall to Cedar Studios II and later to Padnos Hall of Science.

Under Ward's leadership, the institute quickly broadened its reach. Within a decade, the organization had grown to include 15 full-time employees, faculty research associates and student assistants, supported by seasonal staff who operated the D.J. Angus.

By 1996, Ward had secured a second research vessel, the W.G. Jackson, significantly expanding the institute's research capabilities and extending its work throughout Muskegon and West Michigan.

His vision culminated in 2001 when the Annis Water Resources Institute moved into its permanent headquarters at the Lake Michigan Center in Muskegon, providing a dedicated home for research, education and outreach focused on the state's freshwater resources.

Ward retired from the university in 2001. 

“Ron’s vision for AWRI to become a bona fide research institute, integrating hands-on educational experiences with rigorous scientific research, helped set the stage for AWRI’s growth and future success,” said Al Steinman, Ward’s successor. “I am indebted to his leadership, kindness and support.”

Retired baseball coach
Phil Regan, former Lakers head baseball coach and a member of the GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame, died July 8, 2026. He was 89.

Regan led the Lakers from 1974 to 1982, coaching the club to a 176-153 record, two GLIAC titles and two NAIA district titles. Ten of his players were either drafted or signed as free agents with professional clubs, including two — Howard Bailey and Greg Cadaret — who pitched in the majors.

Prior to coaching, Regan compiled a 96-81 career record over 13 seasons in Major League Baseball, pitching for the Detroit Tigers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. 

His standout season as a pitcher came with the Dodgers in 1966, when he earned his lone selection to the All-Star Game and finished with a 14-1 record, a 1.62 ERA and a league-leading 21 saves. 

Following his tenure at Grand Valley, Regan returned to the major leagues, where he served as a manager, coach or scout for six organizations. During the strike-shortened 1995 season, he managed the Baltimore Orioles to a 71-73 record and a third-place finish in the AL East division.

After retiring as a player in 1972, Regan became Grand Valley's head baseball coach two years later, helping build the Lakers into one of the GLIAC's top programs. He was inducted into the GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989. 

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