Drexel's Papadakis dies

In the weeks leading up to his death, Drexel University's longtime charismatic president, Constantine "Taki" Papadakis, continued to read and respond to e-mails, sign off on projects, and discuss university business, even doing so at times from his hospital bed.

He once told his bosses, the board of trustees, that he'd asked his doctor to make sure he was getting enough chemotherapy so he could continue at full capacity.

It fit with a president who in his 13-plus-year tenure added both a law school and a medical school, presided over a major campus building boom, and most recently proposed expanding Drexel to the West Coast with a four-year campus in the Sacramento, Calif., area.

More than a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer, Papadakis, 63, died Sunday evening at sunset - his favorite time of day - with his wife of 39 years, Eliana, and their daughter, Maria, a 2008 Drexel grad, at his side.

University officials said the cancer was in remission, but he died suddenly of a pulmonary complication after a long bout with pneumonia.

News of his death stunned many on campus who continued to hold out hope that their enthusiastic, visionary leader could beat the cancer.

"Taki more than anybody I know did not want to be a diagnosis. He wanted to be a leader," said Donna Gentile O'Donnell, a Drexel trustee.

"He was in every sense a Greco-Roman warrior, and he stayed focused on what was best for the university until the very end. His leadership and courage and fortitude were beyond measure."

His death at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania came just three days after the board of trustees approved his medical leave and appointed C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni, past chairman of the board, as interim president.

A memorial service will be held on campus in early May. Trustees will meet in mid-May to discuss plans for naming a new president.

"Right now, we're going to grieve for Taki and focus our energy on the family," said Richard Greenawalt, trustees chairman.

Greenawalt said he expected the university would stay on course.

Papadakis was the prime mover behind the Sacramento expansion; the university trustees have yet to approve the campus. Whether it will proceed is uncertain.

Papadakis, a former smoker who still enjoyed an occasional cigar, was diagnosed with the cancer after he sustained an injury on a business trip and had a chest X-ray.

Trustees asked Papadakis whether his illness "would have an effect on his prowess" in leading the university, recalled Charlie Pizzi, a Drexel trustee and president and chief executive officer of Tasty Baking Co.

Pizzi said Papadakis answered: "You know, I'm glad you asked me that question because I recently had a discussion last week with my doctor to make sure they were giving me enough chemo because I'm still working 12 to 14 hours a day."

Papadakis responded so well to his first round of chemotherapy that he didn't miss a day of work, recalled Manny Stamatakis, founder and CEO of Capital Management Enterprises and a close friend of Papadakis'.

But in recent months, he spent time in the hospital and worked off-site.

"He had a very strong constitution. He beat the cancer, and it was something else that got to him," Stamatakis said.

The 20,700-student university, which posted a picture gallery of Papadakis' life from childhood to academic leader on its Web site, received hundreds of condolences yesterday from around the world.

Politicians, other university presidents, and business leaders also began issuing statements of praise for Papadakis, who helped to bring business to the Philadelphia area and was never shy about putting up Drexel money to get others to donate.

"He leaves Drexel financially and academically thriving, and everyone who knew him blessed for having their lives touched by this mountain of a man," said University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann.

Mayor Nutter said Papadakis "exemplified excellence."

"In recent times, I cannot think of any college or university president who has had more of a hands-on impact," the mayor said.

On campus, flags were lowered, and a portrait of Papadakis was framed in black bunting.

Staff and students, many of whom didn't know Papadakis personally, mourned.

"I don't envision anyone replacing Taki," said sophomore Stephanie Takach, 19, of Langhorne, news editor of the student newspaper. "My perception of Drexel is what Taki has done. The students can really appreciate what he's done whether or not they knew him."

A Greek-born engineer and son of a doctor, Papadakis came to the United States in 1969 and worked for Bechtel Corp. before moving into university life in 1984 as head of Colorado State University's engineering department.

He was hired as Drexel's president in 1995, when the university was a struggling engineering school. He made changes swiftly, defying the often slow-paced decision-making process common in academia.

Drexel at the time, for example, had a little jewel of an honors program that Papadakis immediately saw the worth of and invested in. He learned about the program at a meeting with its students.

"He worked the room. He assessed the situation. He made a decision quickly. He backed what he thought was an important addition to keeping the best students at the university, and he did it all without fanfare . . . without a report, and that was Taki," recalled Drexel provost Mark Greenberg.

Under his leadership, Drexel started both a law school - which will graduate its first class in May - and a medical school, which he built on the foundation of the former MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine.

He also established several new majors at the school, and in 2002 began Drexel Online, a distance-learning program.

With 25,000 contacts in his phone list, Papadakis became well known for running the university like a well-oiled business, often starting his days at 6 a.m. and staying after everyone else left.

Papadakis, who traveled to Greece regularly to visit friends and family, never lost his temper for anyone to see. He usually signed his e-mails "regards," but when he was upset, it was just "Taki."

He was known for doing meticulous research on new people he was scheduled to meet.

Philip Terranova, vice president of university relations, recalled that he got a call from Papadakis in 1996 asking that Terranova fax him all he could about the Dalai Lama.

Turned out Papadakis was about to have lunch with him in Hong Kong.

Papadakis was described as a visionary who carried out his plan for Drexel "brick by brick."

Under his leadership, the school's enrollment grew by more than 130 percent, with freshman applications up nearly 700 percent, to 27,500. Its research enterprise has mushroomed from $15 million to more than $100 million in each of the last three years, and the size of the faculty has doubled. With 7,300 staff members, the university is the seventh-largest private employer in the city.

The campus has added many buildings since his arrival, including the law school, several new residence halls, a student-activities center, an art gallery, a business center, and the I.M Pei-designed Edmund D. Bossone Research Enterprise Center.

In August 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked the school sixth in its "up and coming national universities" category.

Papadakis also played an active role in the city's business community. In 2004, he helped create Select Greater Philadelphia, an affiliate of the regional Chamber of Commerce charged with promoting the area to outside firms.

He opened Drexel and his home to his fellow business and education leaders as well as executives of new companies that Select had helped to bring to the region.

Thomas G. Morr, president and CEO of Select Greater Philadelphia, called Papadakis an "energy source" who understood how important the economic vitality of the region is to Drexel and the city.

A year ago, he received the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce's William Penn Award, given to business executives for outstanding contributions to the region.

He had his critics, who were concerned that his business focus came at the expense of academic initiatives.

Michael C. Kennedy, chair of the faculty senate, said despite that criticism, the faculty at large understood the greater good of Papadakis' "transformational leadership."

"Where other universities are having hiring freezes and halting construction projects, we're building and growing," Kennedy said.

In June, Papadakis presided over four graduation ceremonies, including the one during which he presented his daughter with her bachelor's degree in business.

A memorial service will be held at noon next Tuesday at St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church in Broomall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Constantine Papadakis Fund at Drexel University, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia 19104.

University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann:

"Constantine Papadakis completely transformed Drexel into one of our nation's more entrepreneurial teaching and research universities. He was a commanding visionary who never rested on the laurels of Drexel's gains, however meteoric. Rather, he kept raising the bar by taking the boldest strategic risks for the sake of his students, faculty, and staff."

Mark Schweiker, president and CEO, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce:

"The passing of Dr. Papadakis is a great loss to the business community because he was a true visionary and champion of regional economic development. He always recognized the important relationship between a strong economy and the higher-education community."

David L. Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast Corp. and chairman, Chamber of Commerce: "Through his strength of personality, Dr. Papadakis transformed Drexel University and transformed greater Philadelphia. He reached out to business leaders and persuaded them that their investment in the region's growth was an investment in their own success. Taki would not take no for an answer, and this confidence inspired the academic community and the business community. He will be sorely missed."

Mayor Nutter: "Among the many great leaders of Philadelphia colleges and universities, present and past, president Constantine Papadakis stood out as a man of vision and action. . . . He was the kind of leader who engendered love among all the university communities - from students to faculty and alumni. It is a sad day in Philadelphia. Taki exemplified excellence in education, and we will all miss him."

Former Mayor John F. Street:

"President Papadakis was a tremendous leader of Drexel, helping it grow in size and stature during the past decade. . . . He raised its profile here and around the country and the world, and he will always be remembered for his vision and his passion for Drexel. President Papadakis was also a tremendous citizen of Philadelphia. Whenever I asked him to participate in any number of endeavors to support our city, he always answered the call to public service willingly, with intelligence and with boundless energy. Constantine Papadakis was an inspiration, and he will be sorely missed by us all."

Temple president Ann Weaver Hart: "Dr. Papadakis was the unrelenting force behind Drexel University's tremendous growth and success since 1995. His impact on the university he loved and on the city of Philadelphia will be felt for decades to come."

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah:

"He was a man of great vision, wisdom, and determination. His leadership will be missed, not only at Drexel but throughout Philadelphia and the academic world. Our prayers are with his family and the entire Drexel community."

Vernon W. Hill, founder of Commerce Bank:

"The university, Philadelphia, and America lost a great leader and true innovator. . . . Taki was a true innovator who broke the stupid rules, relentlessly innovated, and enriched our community. As a 'doer,' he delivered more than he promised and translated vision into reality."

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View a memorial and photo gallery via http://go.philly.com/papadakis EndText