He studied at the University of Notre Dame on the recommendation of his mother,[2] graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1952.
[2] Facing budget shortfalls in 1992, Day proposed sharp cuts that would have eliminated whole departments and laid off faculty.
In August 1992, faculty passed a vote of no confidence in Day and asked the California State University Board of Trustees to replace him.
[6] An improvement in the budget situation led to the cuts being rescinded, but Day remained unpopular on campus, and was ultimately asked to resign, ostensibly for health reasons.
[10] Day died on the evening of June 15, 2021, at an assisted living center in Rancho Bernardo, San Diego.