Former ECU chancellor Richard Eakin passes away at 86

by | Jun 3, 2025

Former East Carolina University chancellor Richard “Dick” Eakin has passed away. He was 86.

Eakin died on Monday. He was ECU’s chancellor from 1987-2001. He took the position after serving at Bowling Green University.

According to his obituary, posted on the Wilkerson Funeral Home website, said, “Following their retirement as Chancellor and First Lady, Dick accepted an appointment as Distinguished Professor in Educational Leadership. In retirement, there followed a number of part-time assignments at ECU, including acting chair of the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Learning Technology Education, acting dean of the Honors College, acting director of Laupus Library, and acting director of the Alumni Office.”

In 2020, the ECU Student Recreation Center was named the Richard R. and JoAnn M. Eakin Student Recreation Center. It was one of two campus buildings named in honor of former chancellors at the school.

Click here to read more about Eakin.

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