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In Memoriam

Ann Bardwell
Franklin Walter
J. Michael Dunn
Larry Siegfried
Herbert L. Coon
Charles Kleibacker
John C. Belland
William D. Dowling
By Decade - 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1980s

Ann Norton Skinner Bardwell

Ann Bardwell

Ann Bardwell, a proponent of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, died Nov. 12, 2010, in Lexington, Kentucky. She would have celebrated her 81st birthday in January.

Her friend, Peggy Shecket, said, "She had a huge impact nationally, on work with parents, on infant stimulation (when it was a new field) and on working with low-income families."

Dr. Bardwell, "Dr. B" to all, had a rich and varied career even while raising two children. She was one of the first married students in the School of Home Economics at the University of Kentucky and even lived in the Home Management House while pregnant with her first child.

At the suggestion of her husband, Bob, she moved to Columbus from Kentucky with her son and daughter, Robert Jr. and Carolyn, in 1964 to pursue her master's and doctoral degrees from Ohio State's School of Home Economics. Bob, a veterinarian, remained at home. She received an American Home Economics Association Rehabilitation Fellowship, which helped her complete a PhD in 1968. The school gave her its outstanding alumni award in 1972.

She taught at Eastern Kentucky University, Ohio State and Drake University in Iowa. She also served in administrative positions for the state of Kentucky, and was a member of the Kentucky State Board of Education, the board of the National Association of State Boards of Education and the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.

Ann was passionate about Head Start and served for more than 44 years in numerous leadership roles in Kentucky, Iowa and Ohio. From 1996 until her retirement in 2009, she was vice president for professional development, Child Development Council of Franklin County in Columbus. The Ohio Voices for Learning, a non-profit organization she was instrumental in starting, now has 500 teachers who meet in study groups to learn more about the Reggio Emilia approach. This group established the Ann Bardwell Scholarship to assist a teacher who wishes to expand his/her knowledge in this area.

Services were held Nov. 19 in Lexington.

A complete obituary and guest book are online at Milward Funeral Directors.

Franklin Walter

Frank Walter with Wayne Hoy, Diane Baugher, and Anita Woolfolk Hoy

Frank Walter, center, enjoys an evening with friends Wayne Hoy, left, Diane Baugher and Anita Woolfolk Hoy.

Frank Walter, distinguished professor of educational administration, died Sept. 15, 2010, the day before his 81st birthday. He had been ill for some time.

As former College of Education dean Nancy Zimpher told the Columbus Dispatch ("Educator united people to help youth"), "Frank Walter was an immensely influential educator and leader. I think his greatest strength was his ability to bring people together to improve the lives of children and youth. He settled major educational disputes and used his convening power to unite teachers, administrators, higher education and community leaders" to benefit all Ohioans.

On a personal note, Helen Higgins, executive assistant in Educational Policy and Leadership, remembered him as a kind colleague. "You always knew when Frank was coming down the hallway before you ever saw him because you could hear his cheerful whistling," she said. "He was one of the most positive people I have ever met."

Frank earned his Ph.D. at Ohio State in educational administration in 1965 and served as Ohio's state superintendent of instruction from 1977-91.

As state supervisor, he was instrumental in ensuring collaboration between Ohio's universities and school districts. In 1999 his efforts were acknowledged with his selection as the first recipient of the Ohio Pioneer in Education award from the Ohio Department of Education.

He joined the Ed P&L faculty in 1991 as superintendent in residence and in 1994 became director of the college's National Academy for Superintendents. Dean Donna Evans appointed him in 2003 as the William Ray and Marie Adamson Flesher Professor of Educational Administration. His research at that time focused on school finance reform. He also was the corporate vice president of public finance with A. G. Edwards & Sons Inc. He retired in 2005.

Walter and his wife Jane also were donors, having established a scholarship for graduate students studying school administration.

Among his many honors are honorary doctorate degrees from five universities. He was president of the Council of Chief State School Officers and served on the American Association of School Administrators executive committee.

Memorial contributions to the OSU Foundation/Walter Scholarship Fund #607546 may be made online. Or checks, made payable to the OSU Foundation/Walter Scholarship Fund #607546, may be mailed to the Franklin B. and Jane Walter Scholarship Fund at The Ohio State University, Room 125, 1480 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43221.

A Brief Tribute to Frank Walter

By Wayne K. Hoy

Wayne Hoy

Frank Walter and I were friends and colleagues at Ohio State for more than 10 years. He was one of the most remarkable educational leaders I have known. He was a scholar-practitioner who could bridge the university world of the ideas with the realm of everyday practice with ease, good humor and grace.

I have tried to reflect and understand what made him so successful and have concluded that he had a number of indispensible traits. First, he was bright and well read; he was always learning. Second, he embraced his work and was indefatigable. Put simply, he outworked most others. Finally, he was genuinely concerned about helping others. His office was always open and he was willing to listen and help anyone who passed through his door. He was a great man, but a humble one with a twinkle in his eye and a wonderful sense of humor.

He influenced educational policy more in his 14 years as Ohio Superintendent of Public Education than anyone before or since. In his first three years in that role, he visited every school district in the state and talked to all six hundred plus school superintendents. Suffice it to say, he knew "everyone" and was revered by all.

Two thousand years ago the poet Sophocles wrote, "One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day as been." We who were privileged to know Frank Walter can take comfort that in the rich evening of his life, his will strong, his courage unchallenged, his spirits high – he could look back upon his life and say, "The day has been splendid indeed."

Wayne K. Hoy holds the Novice G. Fawcett Chair of Educational Administration, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University

J. Michael Dunn

J. Michael Dunn, who was instrumental in developing and operating Ohio State's Recreation and Physical Activity Center and the College of Education and Human Ecology's PAES Building, died unexpectedly Friday, July 23, at age 62. He had been ill for a short time.

His many accomplishments include Ohio State's Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC), the Adventure Recreation Center, Fred Beekman Park, and enhancements to the Jesse Owens recreation centers. He also sought to increase programming including Adapted Recreational Sports to meet the needs of participants with disabilities.

He was instrumental in the lives of students such as EHE alumna Suzanne Merrill (B.S. '10), who told the Columbus Dispatch, "He changed my life" by helping her decide to major in sport and leisure studies. In addition he was an active member in Ohio Staters Inc., served on the homecoming court selection committee, advised the Association of Ohio State Class Honoraries and was an honorary member of Sphinx and the Student Alumni Council.

He also was a dedicated and inspirational leader in the recreational sports field. He was president of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) in 1991 and was awarded the association's Honor Award in 1999.

Mike was a dedicated volunteer and supporter of Special Olympics and was named Honorary Coach at the Special Olympics Ohio summer games in 2003.

His passion for the student experience and true Buckeye loyalty will be fondly remembered.

Memorial videos and a slide show about Mike's life are available online. Also available is a complete obituary and guestbook.

Larry Siegfried

EHE alumnus, Buckeye and former Celtic basketball player Larry Siegfried, who became a mentor to Ohio's inmates, died Oct 14, 2010.

Ex-Celtic, Buckeye Siegfried dead at 71 - USA TODAY
The one and only Siggy - The Boston Globe
Larry Siegfried, Guard Who Won 5 Titles with Celtics, Is Dead at 71 - The New York Times
1939-2010: Wherever he went, Siegfried was a winner - The Columbus Dispatch
Toughness was a hallmark of OSU great Siegfried - The Marietta Times

Herbert L. Coon

Alumnus and professor emeritus Herbert L. Coon of Columbus died Dec. 17, 2009, in Columbus. A memorial service was Jan. 8, 2010, in Worthington, Ohio.

Dr. Coon, 96, earned his M.A. from Ohio State in 1938 and his Ph.D. in educational foundations and research in 1951. He had joined the College of Education in 1943 as a teacher and eventually became principal of the University School in Ramseyer Hall.

After the laboratory school closed in the 1960s, he joined the Teaching and Learning faculty. A science educator, he consulted in Guam and with USAID in India. He worked with the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) and developed elementary and secondary curriculum on recycling and environmental conservation as early as the mid-1970s. He retired in 1978, but continued to teach learners of all ages until recently.

Among his honors is the 2007 Distinguished Service Award from Bluffton University in his hometown of Bluffton, Ohio, where he earned his undergraduate degree.

Contributions in Dr. Coon's memory may be sent to The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43221.

Read a complete obituary for Herbert L. Coon.

Charles Kleibacker

Charles Kleibacker, one of the few American designers to have made a name for himself creating intricate garments in the couture tradition, died Jan. 3, 2010, in Columbus. A memorial is tentatively being arranged for late spring at the Columbus Museum of Art.

Charles, 88, was designer-in-residence emeritus for EHE, as well as director and curator of the Historic Costume and Textiles Collection from 1984-1995.

Instead of mass-produced ready-to-wear, he created a limited number of well-crafted garments that accented body shape and enhanced wearing comfort. He specialized in hand-sewn assembly, which enabled him to produce designs with highly complex bias-cut construction.

His designs were featured in numerous exhibitions, including a major solo show at the Wexner Center. Most recently, the Ohio Art Council presented "Kleibacker: New York Designer to Ohio Curator" in the Riffe Gallery downtown.

The "master of the bias" began as a journalist after graduating from the University of Notre Dame. He moved in the late 1950s to New York City where a job with singer Hildegarde awoke a passion for fashion design. In 1960, he opened his own studio, which he operated for 25 years. In the 1970s, his designs were sold in high-end stores and his clientele included Pat Nixon, wife of President Richard Nixon.

Read a complete obituary for Charles Kleibacker.

John C. Belland

John C. Belland, a pioneer in use of computer technology for teaching and learning, died in November 2009 in Columbus at age 71. He served on the Ohio State faculty from 1970 until his retirement in 1995 as professor emeritus of educational policy and leadership.

He also held joint appointments in the Department of Art Education and the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design. He envisioned the potential in the new fields of computer literacy and educational technology, and founded the National Center on Educational Media and Materials for the Handicapped. In addition, he coordinated the college's Instructional Design and Technology Program.

He received more than $6 million for research and development projects. He was co-editor with Denis Hlynka of the book, Paradigms Regained: The Uses of Illuminative, Semiotic, and Post-Modern Criticism as Modes of Inquiry in Educational Technology (1991).

Belland earned his B.A. in mathematics at Northwestern University, his M.S. in Ed. in curriculum and instruction at Northern Illinois University, and his Ph.D. in instructional systems technology at Syracuse.

Read an obiturary for John C. Belland.

William D. Dowling

Emeritus professor of education William D. Dowling died in March 2009 in Middleton, Wisc. He was a faculty member in adult education from 1967 until his retirement in 1992. At Ohio State he guided nearly 100 students to doctorates. His research interests included literacy education, programs for the incarcerated, and development initiatives in central cities. Among his honors was induction into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame in 2001.

After retirement, he earned a master's degree in mental health counseling from the University of Dayton and worked in that field for several years at Children's Hospital in Columbus.

1930s

Ellen May Cooper Bradley, '35 Education, of Worthington, Ohio, died November 2009 at age 96. She was a former teacher at Sebring High School and assistant librarian at Northern Lights Branch Library in Cols.umbu
Madge Lily Cooper Guthery, '31 Education, of Marion, Ohio, died November 2009 at age 99. She joined WMRN radio in 1941 and worked on air for a total of 52 years, becoming one of Marion's most well-known on air personalities. She was inducted into the Radio Television Broadcaster Hall of Fame of Ohio at the age of 97.

1940s

Richard H. Bell, '43 Education, of Ft. Myers, Fla., died November 2009 at age 95. He was the principal of Barrington Elementary School in Upper Arlington, Ohio. He became president of Highlights for Children magazine in 1963 and then was chairman of the board from 1980 to 2009.
Sir James David Casto, '48 Education, of Boca Raton, Fla., died in November 2009 at age 83. He established Casto Investments Company, Casto Equities Corporation and Casto Enterprises. In 1995, President Clinton appointed him to the President's Advisory Committee of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He was knighted by Prince Henri Paleologo of the St. John Knights of Malta as a Knight of Merit.
Nada Ruth Groves Douce, '44 Human Ecology, of Columbus, Ohio, died in October 2009 at age 87. She taught high school and vocational food service until retiring in 1979. She was an active member in United Methodist Women, Future Homemakers of America and Home Economics Extension.
Mary Kay Powers, '42 Education, of Columbus, Ohio, died November 2009 at age 88. She was a lifetime member of Twig No.36, was a member of Phi Beta Phi sorority where she served on the Alumni Advisory Board and was a member of the Life Care Alliance Service Board.
Anna Katherine Schweizer, '43 Human Ecology, of Celina, Ohio, died October 2009. She was a homemaker.
Seeran Martha Traphagan, '40 Human Ecology, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, died November 2009 at age 89. She was a loyal and enthusiastic Buckeye fan, having enjoyed many trips to the Rose Bowl. And she was a 49-year member of First Community Church in Upper Arlington.
Martha Jeanne Williard, '40 Education, of Columbus, Ohio, died December 2009 at age 91. She was a member of Clintonville Women's Club, Trinity United Methodist Church and National Embroiderers Guild of America.

1950s

Arthur Atkinson, '59 Education, of Grand Terrace, Calif., died in August 2009 at the age of 82. He taught at elementary and secondary schools in San Bernardino.
Patricia Ann Behrens, '56 Human Ecology, of Clinton, NY, died in November 2009. A gourmet cook, she created her own recipes and meals.
Evelyn Cahoon Evans, '51 Education, of Columbus, Ohio, died in November 2009 at age 81. She was a longtime member of the North Broadway United Methodist Church in Columbus, where she participated in adult and bell choirs.

1960s

Calvin J. Cotrell, '60 Education, of Haines City, Fla., died April 2009. He served the National Center for Vocational and Technical Education and was a faculty member in the College of Education at Ohio State from 1965-72. He was the director of Career and Technical Education at Temple University.
John Cecil Guckert, '68 Education, of Heathrow, Fla., died November 2009 at age 88. He completed 20 years of active naval reserve duty. After World War II, he served as an administrative assistant at Ohio State and taught at Westerville High School in Westerville, Ohio.
Martha Merwine Hance, '60 Education, of Lowell, Ore., died December 2009 at age 85. She taught school in Chillicothe and Sunbury, Ohio. She also worked as a junior engineer at Curtis Wright Aircraft Co. and the drafting department at Battelle.
Marjorie J. Woolard, '69 Education, of Heath, Ohio, died November 2009 at age 88. She was a teacher at Franklin and Jacksontown elementary schools. She also volunteered in many community organizations including her church, Girl Scouts, and Dawes Arboretum. She and her husband, Jesse, were inducted into the Central Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2005 for their outstanding contributions in Licking County.

1980s

Mary Jane Kaniuka, '85 Human Ecology, of Farmington Falls, Maine, died September 2009 at age 74. She was a substitute teacher at two Washington D.C. public high schools. At the college level she taught at Penn State University, West Virginia University and the University of Maine at Farmington.

The Ohio State University

www.osu.edu