Constantine Papadakis, the larger than life persona that led Drexel University for 13 years died last night from pulmonary complications. Papadakis recently announced that he was taking a leave of absence from Drexel.

Drexel’s Web sitesaid a campus memorial event is planned and in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the newly formed “Constantine Papadakis Fund at Drexel University.”

Papadakis was in remission from lung cancer which was diagnoed more than a year ago.

He is survived by his wife of more than 39 years Eliana and their daughter Maria, a recent Drexel grad.