William G. “Bill” Luttge, the founding executive director of UF’s McKnight Brain Institute, died Saturday at Shands at UF. He was 68.
Luttge’s wife of 47 years, Michaelyn Chacon Luttge, two sons and other family members were with him. The neuroscientist was diagnosed in January with multiple myeloma, which is a cancer of plasma cells in bone marrow, according to a news release.
During the 33 years he worked for the university, Luttge helped create and cultivate the institute. He also served as chairman of the department of neuroscience, received the College of Medicine’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 and was named an Honorary Alumnus.
Luttge retired in 2004 and pursued his love for nature, according to the release.
The day after his “escape from work,” as his personal website puts it, he started hiking the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. His trail nickname was “FireBall” because of his endless energy and love for eating Atomic Fireballs candies while hiking.
Memorial donations can be made to the UF Foundation, McKnight Brain Institute. Donors can write “Dr. Luttge” on the memo line.
Contact Julia Glum at jglum@alligator.org.
