IN MEMORIAM: Will Lotter and Brian Wadell

Quick Summary

  • Lotter: Coached 5 teams, served as 1st director of Educational Opportunity Program, did humanitarian work
  • Wadell: Director of Repro Graphics, previously worked for Sodexo for 25 years, starting at UC Davis

Will Lotter, former head coach of five Aggie athletics teams, and who also served as the first director of the UC Davis Educational Opportunity Program and as interim dean of students, has died at the age of 94, Intercollegiate Athletics announced.

Will Lotter mugshot
Lotter

He helmed the football team (1954, 1956-57, 1959-63), baseball (1953-58), track and field (1960-62), men’s tennis (1968-78) and men’s soccer (1972-87). He is probably most remembered for his contributions to UC Davis soccer: As the first full-time coach of the men’s team, he led the Aggies to four NCAA postseason berths in his first five years; and he joined former player Alan Moll in spearheading a massive volunteer effort to build the first-class playing facility that is now called Lotter Field.

He also left a mark as a humanitarian, working for the Peace Corps in Africa and making numerous trips to Central America, becoming a leading human rights activist and working with numerous groups to assist communities in Central America. Lotter donated old Aggie soccer uniforms and apparel during his humanitarian visits.

A memorial service will be held in the fall, likely in mid-September.

Read the complete obituary on the UC Davis Athletics website.

Brian Wadell: Repro Graphics director

Brian A. Wadell, 64, director of Repro Graphics since 2008 and whose association with UC Davis spanned more than 30 years, starting as a Sodexo employee, died May 17 of pancreatic cancer at his home in Dixon. He was chair of Staff Assembly at the time of his death.

Brian Wadell mugshot
Wadell

Wadell joined Sodexo at UC Davis when the company ran the university’s dining and catering operations, and eventually moved to the company’s office in Pleasant Hill as vice president of operations for the western United States. He maintained UC Davis as one of his accounts.

He left Sodexo after 25 years to come to work for the university, running the university’s graphic arts and print and copy shop. He served as Staff Assembly finance chair in 2016-17 and chair-elect last year.

“Brian was a dear friend and colleague who I deeply respected and enjoyed spending time with. Everyone loved Brian,” said Cliff Contreras, director of Transportation Services, as quoted by Finance, Operations and Administration in its May 30 FOA Digest. “He was an amazing person, whose kindness and generosity of spirit were always at the forefront of everything he did. I will miss him and will always remember his friendly and light up the room smile.”

Wadell had lived in Dixon the last eight years, and previously lived in Folsom and Antioch. He was a graduate of Brigham Young University, earning a degree in business management; and also attended UC Irvine.

Wadell was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and had served as bishop in Antioch for six years. He was active in his children’s and grandchildren’s sports activities, and also with church youth programs.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; four children, Lisa (Erik) Moll of San Antonio, Bryce (Connie) Wadell and Kevin (Tiffany) Wadell, all of Houston, and Marc (Sara) of Eastvale (Riverside County, California); and 14 grandchildren.

A service will be held at 3 p.m. this Friday (May 31) at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 305 N. Lincoln St., Dixon. Donations can be made in his name to the NorthBay Cancer Center.

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Media Resources

Dateline Staff, 530-752-6556, dateline@ucdavis.edu

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