Education expert Chance dies at 52

Wednesday, July 28, 1999 | 10:16 a.m.

Edward W. "Ed" Chance, a nationally known expert in the field of educational leadership who sat on the boards of several national education organizations, has died. He was 52.

Chance, a professor of educational leadership at UNLV's College of Education since 1995, died Thursday following surgery at a Los Angeles hospital.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of four years will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave. Graveside services will be 3 p.m. in Memory Gardens. Visitation will be private.

Carl Steinhoff, the educational leadership department chair and Chance's supervisor, noted in a statement released by the university that Chance "was exceptionally well published."

He said Chance was the author of the book "Visionary Leadership in Schools: Successful Strategies for Developing and Implementing an Educational Vision," as well as many articles.

Chance, considered an expert in rural education, assisted the Clark County School District in training its administrators.

"He was exceptional in his field and he established high standards," said Kate Kinley, director of administrative training for the Clark County School District.

"He was an extremely articulate man and an exceptional writer who was renowned nationwide. Ed was a genuine, sincere person who knew no boundaries. And that was important in his work as a liaison" between UNLV and the school district.

Born Oct. 30, 1946, in California, Chance worked as an educator in Oklahoma for more than 25 years. He came to UNLV from the University of Oklahoma.

Chance was a member of the executive board of National Rural Education Association, Phi Delta Kappa, American Association of School Administrators and National Council for Professors of Educational Administration.

He is survived by his wife, Patti L. Bruza-Chance, a UNLV assistant professor of educational leadership; and one sister, Kathy Slawson of Crescent, Okla.

The family suggests donations to the Edward W. Chance University of Oklahoma Memorial Bench Fund.