Lois Tarkanian, Las Vegas Educator and Politician, Passes Away
Dr. Lois Tarkanian, widow of the late University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, passed away on Monday. She was 90.
Tarkanian, who was often celebrated with community-based awards, was well-known locally for her years of service as an educator and politician. She was a member of the Las Vegas City Council and the Clark County School Board for more than 10 years, and was elected to the Nevada Board of Regents in 2020, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.
After earning a B.A. in Education, an M.A. in Speech and Hearing, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Human Behavior, Tarkanian served as an elementary school teacher, administrator, and speech pathologist, teaching classes at the Community College of Southern Nevada and a number of universities in California.
Tarkanian co-founded the Public Education Foundation, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit organization, more than 30 years ago. She was also a Board member of the Family and Child Treatment Center for Abused Children, the Oralingua School for the Hearing Impaired, the Nevada Professionals Empowering Parents, as well as EMERGE Nevada.
Founded by Tarkanian in 1969, the Oralingua School was the first and largest private school for the deaf in California.
Tarkanian entered the political arena in 1988 when she was elected to the Clark County School Board, where she served for 12 years. Although she lost the race for a Clark County Commission seat in 2000, Tarkanian was elected to the Las Vegas City Council in 2005, even rising to Mayor Pro Tem.
Over the years, the Tarkanians became an integral part of the Las Vegas community. In 2006, the Tarkanian Middle School was opened in honor of the couple.
Tarkanian received a number of awards throughout the years, including the March of Dimes’ Silver Lily Humanitarian of the Year Award. She was also named Humanitarian of the Year by Catholic Community Services and Citizen of the Year by the Westcare Foundation.
“Who can actually say that she loves her mother-in-law? I loved her so much. I named my firstborn after her as well,” Amy Tarkanian wrote in a post paying tribute to her mother-in-law on X.
“We are all in mourning as we have lost an icon of Las Vegas in Lois Tarkanian,” Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said in a statement on Monday. “Lois has given so much to our community over the decades from being a pillar for education, to her time on the City Council, and of course she was a big part of UNLV basketball with her husband Jerry.”
“A beloved person, Lois is an integral part of what has made Las Vegas so special. We will miss her dearly for her wise counsel, caring nature, and for always being a neighborhood champion. Our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time,” the statement added.
“Dr. Lois Tarkanian was a passionate and tireless champion for education at every level throughout her remarkable life,” the Nevada System of Higher Education wrote in a statement.
“While her family name is widely celebrated for its connection to UNLV, Dr. Tarkanian’s legacy extends far beyond, leaving a lasting impact on education and shaping the futures of Nevada students for generations to come. The Nevada System of Higher Education mourns Dr. Tarkanian’s passing and extends heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones,” read a statement from the Nevada Board of Regents.
“Her extraordinary legacy of service to the Las Vegas community – from government and nonprofits to education at all levels – will forever be cemented in our hearts and memories. The impact on UNLV left by Dr. Tarkanian and her late husband, Coach Jerry Tarkanian, will stand for generations,” said UNLV President Keith Whitfield.
“She was dedicated to improving Nevadans’ lives and educating generations of students. Our state is better off thanks to her exemplary service. I’m keeping the entire Tarkanian family in my thoughts,” Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) said in a statement.
