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Memorial service Sept. 19 for Tardy
Sept. 10, 2001
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The memorial service for Jerry Tardy, president and chief executive officer for the IU Alumni Association, will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sept. 19 at the IU Musical Arts Center. The service was originally scheduled for Sept. 12, but it has been postponed in light of national events. Tardy, 62, died Sept. 7 after a long fight with cancer.
For more than 14 years, Tardy expertly led the association through a period of change and growth. Shining through all his work was the great love he had for his alma mater.
"I speak for the entire IU family when I say how deeply saddened we are by Jerry's passing," said IU President Myles Brand. "No one loved Indiana University more than Jerry Tardy. And no one promoted its interests with more enthusiasm. Jerry was always looking for IU alumni. Even in the hospital, he would greet everyone with his famous smile and ask if they had attended IU.
"Jerry knew that involved and interested alumni are among the university's greatest assets, and he worked tirelessly to coordinate the interests of the alumni with the larger mission of the university. IU is a far better place because of Jerry's dedication to it. He was my friend, and I will miss him very much. Our hearts go out to his wife and family."
"Jerry Tardy served Indiana University with remarkable dedication and effectiveness his entire life. I'm certain that he knew more Indiana University graduates than anyone," said James T. Morris, president of the IU Board of Trustees. "He had a special ability to encourage everyone he knew, and he had an unusual commitment to help students along the way. He will be a very difficult person to replace. His legacy will live forever."
After attending Bloomington public schools, Tardy continued his education at IU, earning his bachelor of science degree in 1962. As a student, Tardy was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and the Student Foundation. A Little 500 rider for three years, he was selected for the Little 500 Riders All-Star team.
He then served four years in the U.S. Air Force, while also attending St. Louis University Graduate School, becoming a certified meteorologist. His meteorological expertise later proved especially useful to IU during countless weather-plagued spring commencement seasons.
Tardy returned to IU in 1968, serving in a number of positions at the university, the IU Foundation and the Alumni Association. He helped negotiate the contract with 20th Century Fox Studios for the Little 500 bicycle race's appearance in the Oscar-winning movie Breaking Away in 1978.
He became executive director of the Alumni Association in 1987, succeeding Frank B. Jones. He was named president and chief executive officer when IUAA adopted a new organizational structure in 2000.
When Tardy assumed leadership of IUAA, membership stood at slightly more than 62,000. In early 2001, the Alumni Association passed the 100,000 mark in membership, placing it among the top five in the country.
In 1997, the association achieved one of Tardy's goals when the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center was opened at 1000 E. 17th St., across from Assembly Hall. Tardy spearheaded a drive that raised more than $5 million in private funds for the project. An existing limestone structure, built in 1963, was renovated and refurbished to create the headquarters.
Increased student programming was a hallmark of Tardy's tenure. He added student representatives from all eight campuses to the association's Executive Council. He was also an ardent advocate of technology. Under his leadership the association established a strong Web presence and created an online directory and permanent e-mail forwarding for alumni.
In addition to his IUAA duties, Tardy also served on numerous university task forces, the latest being the search committee for the new athletics director. He served as a director of the IU Foundation and the IU Varsity Club. He chaired the IU United Way Campaign for three years in the early 1990s.
After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy treatment a year ago, Tardy wrote a column for Indiana Alumni Magazine asking the IU family who supported him so strongly to contribute to the fund-raising campaign for prostate cancer research and clinical trials at the IU Medical Center.
Survivors include his wife, Laura Loudenback Tardy; two stepsons, Andrew Minger and Geoffrey Minger, both at home; two brothers, M. Eugene "Gene" Tardy, M.D., of Oak Park, Ill., and Richard N. "Dick" Tardy, of Salem, Ind.; and a sister, Suzanne "Susie" Tardy Maxwell, of Indianapolis.
A reception at the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center will follow Wednesday's service. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the IU Foundation-Urologic Cancer Research, IU Cancer Center, Long 506, P.O. Box 67, Indianapolis, IN 46209-8763.
(Susan Dillman, 812-855-0850, 812-325-7045 (cellular phone), sdillman@indiana.edu)