Retired WSU Vancouver campus Chancellor Emeritus H.A. Dengerink, 68, died after a two-year battle with brain cancer Wednesday afternoon.

“He is an amazing person, and I am so fortunate to have worked with him when I lived and resided here in the state of Washington some 19 years ago,” President Elson S. Floyd said. “Over the last four years, I've come to know him quite well. His wife Joan is coping as reasonably as you'd expect her to under these conditions.”

Dengerink is survived by his wife, daughters Kris Travis and Erin Dengerink, and five grandchildren.

Dengerink worked at WSU for 42 years, starting in 1969 at the Pullman campus, according to a WSU News press release. In 1989, he established WSU’s Vancouver campus and became the branch campus' first chancellor.

He remained as chancellor before retiring on Aug. 15 of this year.

Floyd named Dengerink the first chancellor emeritus of the Vancouver campus in August, according to the press release.

Earlier this month, the Board of Regents approved that the WSU Vancouver administration building be renamed the Harold A. Dengerink Administration Building in honor of Dengerink, who was present to receive the honor.

“We were very, very fortunate that he was able to make it to that celebration and to that recognition,” Floyd said. “We will miss him tremendously as chancellor.”

The Dr. H.A. “Hal” and Joan Dengerink Endowed Fellowship Fund has been established in honor of Dengerink. Money donated to the fund will go toward supporting scholarships for graduate students. For more information, go to http://admin.vancouver.wsu.edu/giving/dengerink-fellowship.