University of Wisconsin

Jim Abrahams (1944–2024), Airplane! filmmaker

Jim Abrahams was part of the Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker (ZAZ) filmmaking team, known for such comedies as “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun.”  

Ina Jaffe (1948–2024), longtime NPR correspondent

Ina Jaffe was a journalist and radio personality who, for 36 years as an investigative correspondent, had been one of NPR’s most recognizable and reliable voices.

David Bordwell (1947–2024), longtime Criterion Collection contributor 

David Bordwell was a film scholar and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a longtime contributor to the Criterion Collection of films.

Herbert Kohl (1935–2023), former Senator and co-founder of Kohl’s 

Herbert Kohl was a businessman, politician, and philanthropist who was a former U.S. Senator, previous owner of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, and co-founder of Kohl’s department stores with his brother and father.0

Richard Davis (1930–2023), bassist for Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen 

Richard Davis was a jazz bassist and session musician who recorded with Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Dolphy, and many others.

Ada Deer (1935–2023), Menominee leader and advocate 

Ada Deer was a leader of the Menominee Nation who advocated for the rollback of “Termination Era” policies and was later appointed as the first woman to head the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

Florence Howe (1929–2020), women’s studies pioneer

Florence Howe was a pioneer of women’s studies and the founder of the Feminist Press.