Daniel Ritchie, an icon on the University of Denver campus for the past two decades, announced Sunday that he will step down from the university’s board of trustees at the end of the year.
The move was not unexpected and is part of Ritchie’s plans to gradually step away from a leadership role at the university.
In 2005, he resigned after 16 years as DU chancellor to become chairman of the board of trustees.
He first told the board of trustees of his decision Saturday at the board’s fall meeting.
“I love the place, quite irrationally, I think, perhaps,” Ritchie, 75, said Sunday. “So it’s not that I don’t. It’s because I do love the place that I’m doing this.
“In general,” Ritchie added, “in situations where you have a transition to a new CEO, I believe the old CEO, after a reasonable amount of time, should get out of the way.”
Supporters credit Ritchie with bringing about a remarkable turnaround at DU, transforming the school from a financially flagging institution to one with a state-of-the-art campus, a robust student body and a bevy of donors. Ritchie led a $400 million construction campaign that erected numerous new buildings on campus, most notably the athletic and events center that bears his name.
He also oversaw a fundraising effort that brought in $274 million, and, over the years, he gave $50 million of his own money to the university, proceeds from the sale of his Grand County ranch. Ritchie never accepted pay during his years as chancellor.
“He’s left an enormous footprint on the university,” said Robert Coombe, who succeeded Ritchie as chancellor. “I’m sure that his not being on the board is going to be felt in all kinds of ways.”
Coombe said Ritchie had an impact on the campus besides the obvious skyline changes. Under Ritchie, DU became more open to different ideas, more agile and embracing of change.
“There’s a kind of mind-set at DU that change is not only possible, it’s good,” Coombe said.
Ritchie, who started his career as a securities analyst in New York and rose to be the head of Westinghouse Broadcasting, joined DU’s board of trustees in 1983. In 1989, he left the board to become chancellor.
Ritchie’s departure will elevate Joy Burns, vice chairwoman of the board, to chairwoman, a position she held from 1990 to 2005. Ritchie will remain an “honorary life trustee” and will continue raising money for DU.
“I can support, encourage and give advice,” Ritchie said of his new role. “But I’m not in a position of direct responsibility.”
Ritchie will have plenty of new work to keep him busy. In January, he will take over as the chairman and chief executive of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. He also is president of the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, a member of the boards of the Daniels Fund and the Central City Opera and the chairman of the National Park System Advisory Board’s education committee.
But still, Ritchie said he will miss being directly involved at DU.
“It’s been my family for all these years,” he said. “So I’m sure there will be some pains of withdrawal.”
Staff writer John Ingold can be reached at 720-929-0898 or jingold@denverpost.com.
