A noted New Jersey historian and former longtime Rutgers professor whose son now leads the university has died. Richard P. McCormick was 89.

McCormick died Monday after an extended illness, the university said in a statement Tuesday.

He first arrived at the public university in 1934 as an undergraduate, and, with the exception of a stay at the University of Pennsylvania to earn his doctoral degree in the 1940s, McCormick spent most of his career at Rutgers.

During his tenure, he served as a history professor, university historian, dean of Rutgers College and president of the New Jersey Historical Society.

"Richard P. McCormick was one of the luminaries of the Rutgers history department," said Paul Clemens, associate chairman of the department, in a statement.

McCormick is survived by his wife; his son, university president Richard L. McCormick; a daughter, a sister and three grandchildren.