UNLV financial aid chief Standish dies

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003 | 9:28 a.m.

John Standish, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas administrator, who during three decades helped thousands of students determine their financial options to get an education, died Wednesday at Nathan Adelson Hospice. He was 79.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 37 years will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Palm Mortuary-Cheyenne.

Standish was director of financial aid from 1969 until his retirement in 1985. He maintained emeritus status until his death.

"In his position John made the difference in whether a student would get an education at UNLV," said UNLV spokesman Tom Flagg, a friend and colleague. "He made it possible for students to pay for their education without having to otherwise work full time."

As part of his duties, Standish oversaw the school's scholarships and monitored on-going eligibility of students to make sure they maintained certain numbers of credits to be eligible for scholarship funds. He also ran the student loans program, helping students borrow those federal funds.

"Through financial counseling, he helped put together packages of scholarships and loans that helped pay for students' education," Flagg said. "John was an easy-going, friendly guy."

Standish came to UNLV in 1965 when it was Nevada Southern University and would serve under five school presidents.

In 1969 he was named director of financial aid and two years later also was given the title of associate dean of students.

Standish was born Dec. 16, 1923, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

He is survived by a wife, Joyce Standish, a daughter, Jane Standish-Stratton and a son, Tom Standish, all of Las Vegas; a sister, Dorothy McKenzie of Williamsburg, Va.; and two grandchildren.

The family says donations can be made to the scholarship fund in memory of John T. Standish. Donations can be made through the UNLV Foundation.