In Memoriam

January 25, 2022 (Volume 45, Number 10)

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This space pays tribute to the people who helped shape Grand Valley.

Glenn Niemeyer, first provost
Glenn A. Niemeyer, the university’s first provost, died December 30, 2021. He was 87.

Niemeyer was an original faculty member, having joined GVSU upon its opening in 1963. He rose through the ranks as history professor, department chair, dean of arts and sciences, then vice president for Academic and Student Affairs and provost. He retired in 2001 as provost and vice president for Academic and Student Affairs and earned emeritus status.

Read more about Niemeyer in this GVNext article.

 

Paul Jorgensen, retired professor of computing
Paul Jorgensen, retired professor emeritus of computing, died December 15, 2021. He was 79.

Jorgensen retired in 2017 after 29 years of service at the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing. He authored nine software engineering textbooks. More information about Jorgensen is online.

John Bettys, retired Facilities Services staff member
John Bettys, who retired from Grand Valley in 2014, died November 3 in Newaygo. He was 61.

Bettys worked as a hardware specialist in the key department of Facilities Services for 38 years.

Robert Daniels, retired assistant controller
Human Resources learned recently that Robert Daniels, retired assistant controller, died on February 15, 2021.

Daniels, who was 84, retired from Grand Valley in 1997 as assistant controller in the Accounting Office. He had served the university for 30 years.

Cheri Gerhart, AWRI instructor
Cheri Gerhart, an instructor on the W.G. Jackson, a water studies research vessel with the Annis Water Resources Institute in Muskegon, died on September 30, 2021.

Gerhart taught natural sciences at schools in Rockford, Illinois, and Flint as well as Muskegon Catholic Central, Orchard View High School and Muskegon High School. 

After retiring from teaching, she joined the AWRI Education and Outreach part-time staff, which is responsible for conducting educational programs, including seasonal programs aboard the research vessels as well as special events.

 

Steve Engel, affiliate statistics instructor
Steve Engel, an affiliate statistics instructor, died on September 24, 2021. He was 56.

Engel's career, which took him across the globe, started in packaging. He eventually decided to follow his passion and study statistics, which led to his position with Grand Valley. 

He was devoted to his students and was always striving to improve so they had the best experience, according to his obituary. "He wanted to make statistics less daunting and more enjoyable."

 

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In Memoriam