Accounting Professor John Bazley passed away on June 3. Photo courtesy of Kit Bazley.
John Bazley, a highly decorated professor in DU’s School of Accountancy and executive MBA program, passed away on June 3.
Bazley received many accolades throughout his 35-year career at DU, including the Distinguished Teaching Award, the Vernon Loomis Award for Excellence in Advising, the Alumni Award for Faculty Excellence, the Jerome Kesselman Endowment Award for Excellence in Research and the Cecil Pucket Award.
He co-authored two accounting textbooks: Intermediate Accounting, Tenth Edition and Principles of Accounting and Financial Accounting, and was the lead author of Financial Accounting: Concepts and Uses.
“While his accounting courses always presented a tremendous challenge to his students, his open-door policy and inexhaustible enthusiasm meant there was always ample support,” says John’s wife, Kit Bazley. “He managed to maintain a perfect balance between work and play, and accomplished both exceedingly well.”
Bazley, 65, obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting from the University of Bristol in his hometown of Bristol, England. He earned a master’s degree in accounting and a PhD in accounting and management information systems with minors in sociology and economics from the University of Minnesota.
His family and friends remember him for his love of skiing, golf, travel, car races, jazz, the Manchester United football club, and researching, collecting and drinking fine wines.
The School of Accountancy set up a Facebook page in Bazley’s honor, where former colleagues and students continue to post memories about the impact he had on their education and careers.
“Dr. Bazley was a great instructor who excelled at keeping his class relevant and truly made accounting interesting,” Chuck Harper (MBA ’03) wrote on the page. “I know that no one benefited more from his patient and fun loving teaching style. His passion for his students and his specialty created a unique experience for us all.”
“Dr. Bazley was an amazing teacher both inside and outside of the classroom,” wrote Devon Unkeless (BSAC ’09, MACC ’09). “Dr. Bazley didn’t just teach us accounting — he was a mentor to all his students both through school and after. I feel so lucky to have been in Dr. Bazley’s classes and to get to know such an amazing man. We all have our work cut out to be even half as influential as he was.”
“He was certainly the most influential professor I ever had,” Barbara Livingston (BSAC ’87, MACC ’87) added. “He had this effect that helped us rise to our best. Somehow I felt I didn’t want to let him down. I think he stood as the symbol of what I wanted to be — a person of kindness, honor and professionalism. He expected the best of his students and never gave less than that himself. We will miss him deeply.”
Kit Bazley says her husband was once asked what his teaching philosophy was and he replied: “My goals are very simple. I want to challenge students to learn as much as they are capable of and I want to make sure they have the help they need.”
Bazley is survived by his wife, daughter, Sara, and son, Trevor.
The School of Accountancy set up a scholarship fund in Bazley’s honor, which provides scholarships to DU accountancy students. Donations can be sent to the John Bazley Scholarship Fund, School of Accountancy, University of Denver, 2101 S. University Blvd., Suite 355, Denver, CO. 80208.
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