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The University of Maine System (UMS) mourns the passing of President Don Zillman, who died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at the age of 79.
Zillman served the System in many capacities over a more than thirty-year span beginning in 1991, when he joined the University of Maine School of Law as dean. In 1998, he stepped down from the deanship and returned to full-time teaching. Zillman held the Godfrey Professorship of Law from 1990 until his retirement in 2019. His expertise and guidance helped to shape the future of legal education in Maine.
“President Zillman loved Maine and played a critical role within the University of Maine System,” said Dannel Malloy, UMS Chancellor. “It would be an understatement to say that Don never met a stranger. His generosity, caring, and enthusiasm were all infectious, and his commitment was extraordinary. We are all the better for having known him.”
Zillman also served as a distinguished visiting professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point and Visiting Professor at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.
Professor Zillman accepted interim administrative assignments as provost and academic vice president of the University of Maine from 1999 to 2000, where his visionary leadership and commitment to academic excellence left a lasting impact on the entire System. A year later, he landed at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, where he served as interim president.
In 2006, Zillman was called upon to serve as president of the University of Maine at Presque Isle, initially on a temporary basis. That fill-in position turned into six years. For current UMPI President Ray Rice, Zillman’s example of compassionate leadership is instilled in him. “Don was a bright light. He came to us at a critical time and cleared a path toward a brighter future for us. When I think of the people who have had a profound impact on UMPI throughout its history, I think of Sanford Preble, Clifford O.T. Wieden, and Caroline Gentile. And I now add Don Zillman to that prestigious list. He will be incredibly missed.”
“Don’s impact on the entire System is really remarkable,” said Chair Trish Riley, UMS Board of Trustees. “He was an incredible resource to UMS on many levels. From his leadership and critical insight to the many visionary projects he took on after his retirement, Don’s commitment to Maine and the System was unparalleled.”
In 2013, Don and his wife Linda established the Zillman Family Professorship, UMPI’s first rotating professorship, allowing UMPI faculty to conduct in-depth research over a two-year period. Their generosity also anchored progress for expansions of the Zillman Family Greenhouse, an important mechanism for on-campus agricultural research. Their financial support helped to expand the University of Maine Museum of Art in Bangor to include five new galleries and which resulted in the Linda G. and Donald N. Zillman Art Museum.
In 2022, Don and Linda returned to UMPI to receive honorary degrees and to serve as speakers at that year’s commencement.
Don Zillman’s dedication to education, leadership, and community service has touched countless lives, and he leaves a legacy of caring and generosity.
Our thoughts are with Linda and the entire Zillman family, as well as the many colleagues, friends, community members, and students who are mourning him. We will share the obituary and additional information as it becomes available.
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