TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Former Florida State president, Emeritus Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte has died at age 85.
According to Florida State University, the 85-year-old died on Monday.
The Tampa Bay Times reports D'Alemberte collapsed at a rest stop during a return trip from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville where he recently underwent surgery.
D'Alemberte served as head of the university from January 1994 through January 2003.
Florida State President John Thrasher released a statement in the wake of D'Alemberte's passing:
" I've known Sandy for more than 40 years. He's been a friend, a mentor and an inspiration to me. He was a person of great integrity with an abiding sense of social justice who made a difference in people's lives here and around the world through his defense of the First Amendment and advocacy of human rights. He loved Florida State University and left a lasting legacy through his dedication to academic excellence and research, diversity, campus beautification and historic preservation, and support for the arts and culture. I will miss him dearly."
Family members also took to social media following the announcement of his passing.
I thought he was immortal. pic.twitter.com/xiWMwYrOwD
— Gabrielle Dalemberte (@dalemberte) May 21, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis also expressed his condolences to D'Alemberte's family.
Florida mourns the loss of Sandy D’Alemberte who leaves a lasting legacy in our state, particularly @FSU, to the benefit of generations to come. Casey and I send our deepest regrets to his wife Patsy and family.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 21, 2019
Aside from serving as President , D'Alemberte held many positions throughout the state of Florida.
D'Alemberte was a former president of the American Bar Association in 1991 and served as dean of Florida State Law from 1984 to 1989.
According to FSU College of Law, he represented Dade County in the Florida House of Representatives from 1966 to 1972. After leaving the Florida Legislature, he chaired the Florida Commission on Ethics in 1974 and the Florida Constitution Revision Commission in 1978.
During his time as a practicing attorney, D’Alemberte concentrated on media and public law work.
Due to his hard work and leadership over the years, D’Alemberte was a recipient of the Mediators' Lifetime Achievement Award.
