Remembering Dick Wukich

hile the annals of Slippery Rock University history are full of committed, passionate people who have left their mark on the University, precious few can match the particular fire and venerable reputation of Dick Wukich. A former professor of art and trustee, Wukich passed away on Dec. 25, 2025, leaving behind a vast legacy that spans both his active presence on campus and through humanitarian efforts addressing hunger and safe drinking water.

A native of North Braddock, Wukich joined the SRU art faculty in 1968, retiring in 2011. In that time, Wukich impacted the lives of students and contributed to faculty life as a founding member of SRU’s chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties.

Wukich’s high degree of involvement in the University community and beyond left an indelible mark on his colleagues. SRU art faculty member Jon Shumway recalled Wukich’s profound commitment to helping others.

“Dick was very much an advocate for art as a means of advancing people,” Shumway said. “He brought art to underserved communities throughout the Commonwealth.”

One of those outreach efforts was the Summer Art Academy, a program that brought students from around Pennsylvania to the SRU campus for two weeks of intensive study of artistic disciplines ranging from fine arts to music. Students from towns all throughout Pennsylvania come to campus for two weeks each summer for intensive, conservatory level study of their craft.

The Academy was born of Wukich’s desire to provide high quality arts instruction to students from smaller, less affluent schools with struggling art programs, giving students from those places an equal opportunity to pursue their passions and broaden their minds.

The desire to use art to address big issues flowed over into Wukich’s life off campus, as well. He led the Potters Water Action Group, an organization that provided ceramic water filters to people in nations living without access to clean drinking water. In his time implementing the filters around the world, Wukich also made connections and memories with the people he came to serve.

“He was promoting the water filter and helping people to establish facilities in Sudan, and he made a little video clip of him where he’s chanting ‘Here we go, Steelers, here we go!’ and a bunch of kids start calling back, mimicking him!” Shumway recalled, laughing. “It was just this little joyous experience where he was sharing where he came from and the kids were just enjoying the experience with him.”

That love of where he came from was something that spoke to Shumway throughout their time together.

“He showed the importance of staying true to who you are and standing up for what you believe in,” Shumway added. “He had very strongly held convictions, and he held them to his dying day.”

It is clear that Wukich left an impression on those who knew him with his strong personality alone, but this larger-than-life figure’s legacy is ultimately defined by those he helped as a teacher and activist.