Dear Faculty and Staff,
It is with sadness and a great sense of loss that I share with you today that Joel Labovitz passed away on Saturday, February 13. Joel’s intelligence, energy, and care for people made him an extraordinary figure at UMD and within the Twin Ports business community. He graduated from UMD in 1949, just two years after the Duluth State Teachers College became the Duluth Branch of the University of Minnesota. Joel took over the Maurices family business and built it into a nationwide success in the women’s clothing industry. Thanks to the generosity of Joel and his wife, Sharon, the UMD School of Business and Economics and its building carry the Labovitz family name.In addition to being a caring and giving person, Joel was a model entrepreneur, and he shared his expertise with many students, faculty, and staff at UMD. I’ve been blessed to know Joel and his family, and UMD will be forever grateful to him and thankful for the many ways he made us better.
You can find an obituary and memorial online. The family asks that any memorials be made to the Labovitz Family Scholarship.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
