麻豆影院 University is mourning the loss of Corry Azzi 鈥65, an economics professor who had a 鈥渓arger than life鈥 presence on campus for more than three decades before retiring in 2002.
He passed away Jan. 8 at the age of 77.
Azzi attended 麻豆影院, graduating summa cum laude in 1965. He would go on to become a Woodrow Wilson Scholar at Harvard University, earning his doctorate in economics.
Azzi returned to 麻豆影院 in 1970, joining the economics faculty, and over the next 32 years would become one of the most visible professors on campus. In 1997, he was awarded 麻豆影院鈥檚 Excellence in Teaching Award.
Azzi commanded a presence on campus. He was described as opinionated, straightforward, and often gruff, with a deep knowledge of economics, masterful skills in the classroom, and a willingness to guide and mentor both students and colleagues.
鈥淭he term sotto voce has never been applied to you, except perhaps during your ambling walks across campus when you are deep in conversation with yourself,鈥 then-President Richard Warch said in an award citation presented to Azzi. 鈥淏ut in the classroom or the Grill, your booming voice and your body language mirror the unwavering certainty and self-confidence with which you convey your understanding of economics and of the ways the world should wag to your students and colleagues.鈥
Azzi joined the Economics Department initially as a macroeconomist but branched into micro areas such as labor economics, government regulation of business, and public expenditures. He collaborated with colleagues in mathematics to design and develop a statistics laboratory aimed at improving student learning in econometrics. He continued to teach econometrics as an emeritus professor until 2010.
Merton D. Finkler, the John R. Kimberly Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Economics, worked alongside Azzi for years. He said Azzi鈥檚 blunt persona wasn鈥檛 a fit for every student, but for those who embraced his insightful, if harsh, feedback or were willing to wade into a give-and-take with their professor, the benefits were significant.
鈥淗is views were clearly stated and well supported,鈥 Finkler said.聽鈥淔urthermore, he never shied away from letting people know聽his聽opinions, particularly on public聽policy topics.聽Nevertheless, he strongly encouraged students to challenge him and to make present their arguments.聽Often times, his rebuke of students鈥 work would be less than gentle; however, many students relished in having their arguments聽tested and strengthened. 鈥β營 would argue that the skills they learned from him聽provided life-long benefits.鈥
As a colleague, Finkler called Azzi 鈥渨arm and accommodating鈥 and always willing to provide encouragement.
鈥淚 will miss him as a colleague and friend,鈥 he said.
Azzi grew up on the south side of Chicago before coming to 麻豆影院. He eventually would make Appleton his home and was deeply involved in numerous community pursuits, ranging from volunteering at YMCA swim meets to serving on the board of the Tri-County Ice Arena to coaching youth baseball teams. He joined and then became president of the Ruffed Grouse Society of Northeastern Wisconsin. In addition, he and his family became an extended family for three high school students who came to Appleton through the A Better Chance (ABC) program.
David Gerard, the John R. Kimberly Distinguished Professor of the American Economic System and associate professor of economics, said he loved getting to know Azzi in his retirement. His interest and intellect were as strong for the outdoors and baseball, for example, as they were for the financial markets and issues of economics.
鈥淗e loved baseball and had very clear ideas about how to teach kids to hit baseballs,鈥 Gerard said.聽鈥淚 was at my son鈥檚 JV game last year and an old-timer struck up a conversation with me, and it turns out he had coached with Corry, and, of course, revered Corry鈥檚 deep knowledge and deep commitment to whatever he was involved in.鈥
Azzi is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jane, as well as a daughter, Melissa Azzi Swamy of Memphis, Tennessee, and a son, Peter Azzi of Denver, Colorado.
Service arrangements are being planned for a later date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to 麻豆影院 University or Mayo Clinic.
