Purdue University Resolution of Appreciation - 2013
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Former baseball player Mike Birck (1959-60), an honorary member of the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, passed away this morning. He was 77.
Birck served on the university's Board of Trustees for 14 years (1999-2013), playing significant roles in two major fundraising campaigns (Vision 21 and Campaign for Purdue), which combined to provide a huge improvement in the university's infrastructure. He also was a major participant financially, providing much of the funding for the Birck Nanotechnology Center and Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, along with a significant gift to the Mackey Complex project for which he served on the leadership steering committee.
Birck came to Purdue from Missoula, Montana, and earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1960 and subsequently a master's in the same discipline from New York University in 1962. He went on to serve as president and CEO of Tellabs, Inc., in Chicago for more than 25 years, winning numerous awards both at Purdue and in the Chicago area, including induction into the Chicago Business Hall of Fame.
He was director of the Economics Club of Chicago and was actively involved with the United Way/Crusade of Mercy in Chicago while also serving on the board for the Lincoln Foundation for Business Excellence and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
Birck was inducted into the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in April of 2015. He previously was honored by Purdue as a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 1991 and was given an honorary doctorate of engineering in 1995.
Birck is survived by his wife, Katherine, three children - Kevin, Joni and Christopher - and seven grandchildren.
Visitation is from 3 to 9 p.m. CT Friday at Sullivan Funeral Home, 60 S. Grant St., Hinsdale, Illinois. Funeral is 10 a.m. CT Saturday at St. Isaac Jogues Church, 306 W. Fourth St. (and Clay), Hinsdale.