Patrick Delaney

Patrick R. Delaney, professor of Accountancy, passed away on May 14, 2000. His family was inundated by more than 500 cards and emails from his former students. It was a fitting tribute, according to colleagues, who say that throughout his 30 year career in the NIU Department of Accountancy, 12 of them as chair, Delaney was guided by one simple principle: always do what is best for the students. Delaney looked for ways to help NIU accountancy students stand out. In 1972 he helped to create the NIU CPA Review to help boost pass rates. In 1980 he took authorship over the best-selling set of Certified Public Accounting examination review books in the world. He also earned several notable honors for himself. In 1976, the NIU Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award, in 1988 the first Arthur Andersen Alumni Professor of Accountancy at NIU, in 1991 the Illinois CPA Society named him the Outstanding Educator, and in 1999 the organization gave Delaney its highest honor, naming him as an honorary member. Delaney was also a devoted family man. He had one daughter and three granddaughters. He was active on the parish council at St. Mary’s in Sycamore and a member of the board that guides the Ben Gordon Foundation.