In Memoriam-Louis Gapenski

Louis Gapenski, Ph.D., a longtime faculty member in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions’ department of health services research, management and policy and a best-selling author of textbooks on corporate and health care finance, passed away recently.

“Lou was a quick-witted, kind-hearted, independent-thinking, wise gentleman, and together with his wife, Jane, a very generous supporter of the college,” said Michael G. Perri, Ph.D., dean of the college.

Gapenski wrote the definitive textbook on health care finance, along with several best-selling textbooks, and is the author of a popular American College of Healthcare Executives self-study program in health care finance.

“There are literally a handful of people in the field of health administration education generally, and none in health care finance specifically, who have had an impact even remotely approaching that of Lou Gapenski,” said R. Paul Duncan, Ph.D., the Malcom and Christine Randall Professor in the department, the senior associate dean at the UF Graduate School and a colleague of Gapenski’s for 28 years.

During his career Gapenski received 19 teaching awards at the department, college and university levels.
Gapenski graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1959 and entered the Marine Corps Officer Training School. He held several postings, including at the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned a master’s degree in physics. He retired in 1979 as a lieutenant colonel. Gapenski then embarked upon his second career, earning two degrees from UF, a master’s degree in business administration and a doctoral degree in finance and economics, before joining the department of health services research, management and policy in 1988.

In 2012, alumni and friends of the department created the Gapenski Healthcare Finance Scholarship Fund to honor Gapenski’s contributions.

To honor Gapenski’s memory, contributions can be made to one of the following endowments created by the Gapenskis: the Gapenski Healthcare Finance Scholarship Fund #17925; the Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Term Professorship for Health Services Administration #7304; the Jane Gapenski Oncology Nurses’ Professional Development Fund; and the Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Florida Museum of National History Endowed Fellowship #19549. All funds are administered by the University of Florida Foundation, P.O. Box 14425, Gainesville, FL 32607-2425.