MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Sad news was shared by Marquette University Wednesday. 

Professor David Fantle died Tuesday, April 21, at 66 years old.

Fantle had been an adjunct professor in Marquette's Diederich College of Communication since 2009, but he was a prominent figure in Milwaukee long before that. CBS 58 Sunday Morning featured him in 2018.

Fantle worked with VISIT Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, and played a role in creating one of our city's pop culture landmarks, the Bronze Fonz statue along the Milwaukee River. 

“Losing Professor Fantle is a blow for our whole college,” said Dr. Sarah Feldner, dean of the Diederich College of Communication. “While we are grieving his loss, we are gratified to know that the impact he made on hundreds of students will live on well into the future. He will be sorely missed.”

Marquette says a funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Congregation Sinai in Milwaukee.