KU Social Welfare community mourns passing of Professor Emeritus Rick Spano

The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare community mourns the passing of Professor Emeritus Rick Spano, who died on May 19 at age 79.

Spano retired from the School of Social Welfare with emeritus status in 2018, after 43 years of teaching KU social work students. He joined KU as an associate professor of social welfare in 1975. During nearly five decades of service to KU, Spano completed terms as director of the Bachelor of Social Work program and associate dean of academic programs in the School of Social Welfare.

After retirement, Spano stayed connected with the School of Social Welfare, traveling with students on summer study abroad trips.

Spano was traveling with a KU social work study abroad program in Italy when he passed.

“Rick had a personality that filled the room and was an amazing member of our School of Social Welfare community. He served the school for decades and continued to do so after his retirement,” said Michelle Carney, dean of the KU School of Social Welfare. “He impacted so many in our community and will be remembered for his commitment to social work education and to his students.”

Spano’s teaching, research and scholarly work focused on social work practice, ethical decision-making, social work history and philosophy.

He was a two-time winner of two social work teaching awards: the Gene A. and Gretchen Budig Award for Excellence in Teaching in the School of Social Welfare (2007, 2010) and the Outstanding KU Social Work Faculty Award (1997, 2007).

Spano earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from St. John’s University, a master’s degree in social work from St. Louis University, and a PhD in social work history and higher education from the University of Minnesota.

Memorial services are tentatively set for the end of June at Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W 13th Street, Lawrence, Kansas. Please refer to the online obituary for updates.

Read a condolence letter from Professor Emeritus Marcos Chinchilla, School of Social Work of the University of Costa Rica