Last Wednesday, a K-State professor died while vacationing in Mexico.

Mary Hale Tolar, director of leadership studies, sent an e-mail Sunday evening stating Tony Jurich, professor of family studies and human services, drowned while on vacation with his wife, Olivia Collins, instructor in the school of leadership studies. The pair were walking on a beach when a "rogue wave" overtook them and they were pulled into the water by the undertow.

The hotel staff witnessed the event and entered the water pulling out Collins and Jurich. Collins was revived then transported by ambulance to a local hospital and spent two days recovering, according to the e-mail.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Jurich received his undergraduate degree from Fordham University. Jurich went on to earn his masters and Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University before he relocated to Manhattan and joined the K-State faculty in 1972.

"He definitely left behind a memory; no person that has been in this program will forget him," said Rebekah Adams, graduate student in marriage and family therapy. "He gave these students something unique, and in that way he won't ever be completely gone."

Jurich was in phased retirement from K-State after more than 28 years of teaching and mentoring.

"He was an amazing colleague, mentor, friend," said Sandra Stith, director of the marriage and family therapy program. "We're all about the business of people, and he's touched many lives and many hearts."

Stith said students and faculty spent time together Monday, talking about Jurich and remembering the ways he impacted their lives. Jurich was recognized as the life of the party in the marriage and family department and many students said he was a determing factor in their decision to attend K-State'

"I think he gives the program a sense of unity," said Cheryl Lugo, K-State alumna. "He knew how to bring us all together and support each other and learn how to become each other's friends and family."

Lugo said Jurich was the first person she met in the marriage and family therapy program and the person she wanted to work for during her time at K-State.

"He would always say that every year, whenever he had the first class, he would always say ‘look very closely at each other,'" Lugo said. "'You will become each other's best friends and be at each other's weddings.' He was right."

Jurich brought a sense of family to the program and offered students attention both inside and outside of class.

"He was always kind and warm," Adams said. "He would always go around and invite students to lunch and be involved with things."

Jurich was much more to K-State than a professor, students said. He was also an avid Wildcat fan. Jurich had season basketball tickets with colleague and friend, Farrell Webb, associate professor of family studies and human services. The two sat at half court directly in front of the student section.

"One of his most favorite things to talk about was how much he enjoyed game days and sitting front row," Adams said. "He was always encouraging people to come and support the games."

Jurich rarely missed a Wildcat game and could often times be seen giving the referees his opinion of their job performance.

"He would always have stories about his basketball outings," Lugo said. "I remember his phone had the K-State fight song; he was a huge fan."

Jurich's reach wasn't limited to K-State basketball and the family studies department, though. While at K-State he served a few years as president of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Stith said Jurich positively affected students, faculty and collegues all over the world.

"He's made a huge difference to families," Stith said. "He left an amazing legacy of people whose lives he's changed."