Fall/Winter 2021-22: In Memory

Note: An * before a name means the alumnus was a faculty or staff member, too. So they also are listed under Faculty/Staff below, with links to obituaries and other remembrances when available. To submit a name for the In Memory listing, please click on the Share Your News button on the Class Notes page and fill out the form. 

1940s


1950s


1960s



Charles Kuntzman, BBA ’68, August 30, 2019

Paul Zimmer, BA ’68, March 1, 2020


1970s

Helen Marie Cusick, BA ’71, PhD ’00, October 16, 2019

William E. Hoerger, BS ’72, May 30, 2021

Robert Jamison, BA ’74, September 3, 2020


1980s

*Elizabeth Howard, BA ’87, April 10, 2021


1990s

Leonard Visconti, BS ’92, June 5, 2020


2000s


Faculty/Staff

Professor Emeritus of Journalism, 1950–1984, January 15, 2021
Associate director of the School of Journalism and director of the news bureau, he helped found the Kent State chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, in 1953. He also was advisor to The Daily Kent Stater, 1954–1966.

Professor Emeritus of Biology, 1958–1993, July 14, 2021
He was founder and curator emeritus of the Tom S. and Miwako K. Cooperrider Herbarium at . A floristic field botanist, his collections and those of his students provided many of the specimens used by his wife (who died in 2018) to build the Herbarium. After retirement, Dr. Cooperrider continued his research and published books on the Ohio flora in 1995 and 2001; he later published a compilation of botanical essays, a memoir of WWII and a book of poetry. Memorial donations may be made to the Tom S. and Miwako K. Cooperrider Herbarium Endowment Fund.

Professor Emeritus of Technology, 1968–1991, April 11, 2021

Professor Emeritus of Political Science, 1969–2004; April 7, 2021
 An expert in constitutional law, he worked extensively on the legal aspects of the May 4, 1970, shootings and published four books and numerous articles on the topic. He and Dr. Jerry Lewis co-founded the May 4 course, which focused on a range of issues surrounding May 4 and continues to this day. Known as “Dr. Tom” by his students, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award, President’s Medal and Ohio Teacher of the Year. The Dr. Tom Hensley Endowed Scholarship was established in his honor. Note: Because of recent COVID-19 developments, the public celebration of his life to be held at the Kent Campus has been moved to spring 2022.

Kent State May 4

Dean Emeritus of the College of Fine and Professional Arts, 1971–2004, July 1, 2020
He taught music theory, analysis and orchestration and served as coordinator of Kent/Blossom Music Festival. In 1979 he became assistant dean of the College of Fine and Professional Arts. He received the Presidents Medal in 2004. The Richard D. Worthing Scholarship at Kent/Blossom Music was established in his honor. A public celebration of life was held on Oct. 16, 2021 at the Glauser School of Music on the Kent Campus.

Richard “Dick” Worthing

Elizabeth Howard, BA ’87, PhD, instructor in the Honors College Freshman Honors Colloquium, 2001–2021, April 10, 2021
An award-winning professor, Dr. Howard also taught advanced classes in Honors and advised many Honors theses. The Elizabeth Howard Honors Scholarship was established in her honor.

Elizabeth Howard

director of business affairs for Kent State Geauga and the Twinsburg Academic Center, July 18, 2020
He served in various roles at several campuses at from 1990–2020. The Kent State Geauga Campus in Burton has dedicated a memorial patio in his honor.

John H. Granny

creative director, University Communications and Marketing, October 8, 2021
He served in various design positions at from 1990–2021. Among those roles were art director of Kent State Magazine at University Communications and Marketing from 2002–2008, and graphic designer and design production manager of Kent State Alumni for the Office of Alumni Relations from 1992–2002. He also was an adjunct professor at the School of Visual Communication Design in 2007.  The Nick Moore Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in his honor.


BACK TO FALL/WINTER 2021-22

POSTED: Monday, September 13, 2021 11:19 AM
UPDATED: Thursday, November 14, 2024 11:31 AM