The time has come,” the Walrus said, “to talk of many things: of shoes and ships - and sealing wax
... OF CABBAGES & KINGS
University of the Pacific Emeriti Society Newsletter Fall 2024 edited by Roseann Hannon
Fall 2024 Welcoming Celebration
On September 17, 2024, the Emeriti Society hosted the first event for the 2024-25 academic year. The Reception was held at the courtyard of the Alumni House and was attended by 43 members of the Emeriti Society and about a dozen University Administrators, including Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert (Provost), Bob Henderson (VP of Technology/CIO), Scott Biedermann (VP of Development), Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi (VP Diversity, Equity &Inclusion), Maria Blandizzi (VP Student Life), Lewis Gale (Dean Business), Lee Skinner (Dean COP), Jennifer Juanitas (Program Director Olli), Janice Wagner (Senior Director of Alumni Relations) , Joan Lin-Cereghino (Vice Provost of Academic Affairs), and Justin Low (Chair AC). The emcee of the Reception was Bill Topp. Before opening and after closing remarks the attendees enjoyed wine, waters, sodas, and hot and cold appetizers. It was a wonderful afternoon (3-5 p.m.) with all attendees chatting with one another and reconnecting. [Phil Oppenheimer]
Coming Emeriti Events - Save the Dates
Annual Holiday Celebration – Hosted by President Callahan and Jean Callahan – Tuesday, December 10, 5:00-7:00 All members of the Emeriti Association living in the area invited. Come! Enjoy!
Spring Events
Spring Luncheon - February 20, 2025, 11:30-1:30 p.m. - Ken Albala, speaker - Alumni House
Conversation with the President - March 26, 2025, 3:00-4:00 p.m. - Hybrid presentation - Join us in Room 211 DUC or virtually online
Fall Luncheon
We had a lovely fall day in Stockton for our annual Fall Luncheon at the Vereschagin Alumni House from 11:30 to 1:30. Thirty-five people attended. Lunch of sandwiches, salad, desserts and beverages preceded our speaker, Jeanne Callahan. Her presentation focused on her work with a planning committee to support and renovate the Miracle Mile area of businesses on Pacific Avenue, south of campus. Her Powerpoint presentation included her overview of the systemic work of the group, with some funding from grants and cooperation of many businesses in the Miracle Mile. The planning group is at the stage of Requests for Proposals for the next steps of making improvements in the commercial area. She shared some of the events that will be taking place in the Miracle Mile area and goals to make the area attractive for business owners and people to shop, eat, and enjoy their experiences. The University also appreciates having attractive businesses for students, staff and faculty to enjoy and promote. She responded to several questions from our audience.
Our meeting continued with a presentation from Justin Lowe, associate professor of School and Clinical Psychology at Benerd College, and Chair of Academic Council this year. He highlighted two new interdisciplinary degree programs. These are a BS in Sustainability and a BS degree in Product Design and Entrepreneurship. Both of these new programs were designed with faculty from three schools. The School of Health Science gained approval of a Master of Emergency Management Science. He also shared work to develop a common set of items for student feedback within course evaluations. He fielded some questions prior to our adjournment.
We all enjoyed seeing many colleagues, spouses, and friends at the luncheon and we hope you can make it this coming spring semester to our luncheon. We are planning on having our Spring Luncheon on Thursday, February 20, 2025. [Marilyn Draheim]
100 Years in Stockton: The Pacific Centennial Celebration
On September 29, 2024, the University celebrated 100 years in Stockton. President Callahan welcomed the large audience. Mary-Elizabeth Eberhardt, Chair, Board of Regents talked about her family’s ties with the University from the beginning of this century-long association. Fellow Regent, Leticia Robles, followed with sharing her experiences at Pacific. The Pacific Jazz Ambassadors performed before and during the festive ceremony. To top off the evening, the book, A Century in Stockton: Celebrating University of the Pacific’s Central Valley Campus, was given to the audience members. This book was edited by Ken Albala and Lisa Cooperman, and chapters were written by Pacific faculty members and members of the community. If you would like to hear more about this, be sure to attend the Emeriti Society’s Spring Luncheon on Feb. 20 where Dr. Albala will be our guest speaker.
[Simalee Smith Stubblefield]
Mentor Awards
Four current or emeriti faculty members who excel in mentoring students and encourage colleagues to do the same are recipients of the 2024 Faculty Mentor Awards from the Pacific Alumni Association. The awards were presented at a brunch Oct. 13, 2024, during Homecoming weekend. The annual awards go to faculty who through their personal and professional relationships have mentored students directly or provided internships, career opportunities and scholarships.
The honorees were:
• Marcia Hernandez, professor and chair of sociology
• Derek Isetti ’08, associate professor and chair of speech-language pathology
• William Topp, professor emeritus of mathematics and computer science
• Linda Webster, professor emerita of educational and counseling psychology
“These prestigious awards acknowledge the time and dedication faculty mentors devote to foster students and alumni career development and academic success,” said Scott Biedermann ’05, ’20, vice president of development and alumni relations. “In addition, these awards allow alumni to honor and celebrate the valuable efforts of faculty members who embody the spirit of mentoring.”
William Topp
Professor Emeritus William Topp’s influence at Pacific is felt through his academic contributions and dedication to supporting students. Topp's leadership galvanized the Emeriti Society and other supporters to contribute to the Pacific Student Emergency Fund for Pacific Gives, ensuring that students facing unforeseen financial crises receive timely assistance to continue their education without disruption. The fund ensures that all Pacific students undergraduates, graduates and professionals have the resources to succeed academically despite personal challenges. Topp also is known for his academic ingenuity and forward thinking.
“Dr. Topp was an exemplary professor at Pacific. He embodied great energy which he shared with his students,” said Lori Wrath ’85. “During my years at Pacific (1981-85), the computer science major was still in its infancy and part of the Department of Math in College of the Pacific. Dr. Topp infused classes with his teaching passion.”
Linda Webster
For 26 years, Professor Emerta Linda Webster dedicated her professional life to Pacific, serving in roles that included faculty member, department chair, dean of graduate studies and two-time interim dean. She was instrumental in preparing Benerd College during the merger of University College and the Gladys L. Benerd School of Education. Her redesign of the Benerd student space created a hub where students meet to collaborate on projects, share experiences and spend time together.
“She was not just willing to help a few chosen students. She championed all her students,” said Kevin Smith ’99. “I know this because more than 20 years after I went through the program, my younger sister is saying the same things about her. She truly cares about students, as evidenced by the extra time she spends with them.”
In 2022, Webster received the Order of Pacific, the highest honor given by the university, in recognition of her years of dedication. Topp received the Order of Pacific in 2008. [Simalee Smith Stubblefield]
Emeriti Society Reports
Oral History Report
During the 2nd year of her four years as Emeriti Society President, Doris Meyer’s report in the April 1996 issue of Cabbages & Kings included the following statements:
“Two very productive meetings have been held with Don Walker, University Archivist, and a group of our Emeriti on February 9, and again on February 29. Stan Beckley, Kay Davis, Jerry Briscoe, Marc Jantzen, Jake Jacoby, Cisco Kihara, Sherman Spencer, and I brain-stormed some ways that our Emeriti might be of assistance with the development of the archives. One plan is to tape record ‘oral history interviews’ with individuals who personally experienced the changes that occurred over the years. This type of historical data is apparently extremely valuable.”
For almost 30 years Doris has championed the Emeriti Oral History Project. The transcripts of 96 interviews are now posted on the University Archives website. Interviewees include retired faculty and deans from all colleges, including all three of the Cluster Colleges, as well as university administrators from all divisions of the University. Since 2017 there have been over 11,000 interview downloads. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/esohc/
In recent years Doris has worked very closely with Nicole Mountjoy and Michael Wurtz in the University Archives to schedule, record, transcribe and post the interviews on the University website.
If you would like to nominate a potential interviewee or if you would like to be interviewed, please contact Gene Pearson epearson@pacific.edu or one of the other Emeriti Board members. [Gene Pearson]
Treasurer’s Report
As of November 1, 2024, the Emeriti treasury had a balance of $3,603.78. We had 43 attendees at the Welcoming Celebration on September 17, 2024. Of those guests, 16 were invited administrators. We collected $150 for registration and $20 in donations. The cost of catering that event was $977.59. We had 34 individuals attend the Fall luncheon on October 21, 2024. The cost of catering for the event was $861.55, we collected $270 for registration and $30 in donations. The money from the Provost’s Office covered the cost of both events. The registration for our luncheon was $10, and registration for our Welcoming/Wine and Cheese event was $5. It is due to the generosity of the Provost and others that we continue to have a positive balance in our account. [Simalee Smith-Stubblefield]
Academic Council Highlights Fall 2024
At the time of writing this report, the Academic Council has met two times, September and October. We met on Zoom, to accommodate many who would find it difficult to get to the meetings in person. I selected some of the items that Council reviewed and acted on at the two meetings.
Justin Lowe, associate professor in School and Counseling Psychology, Benerd College, is our Academic Council Chair this year. At the October meeting, Council reviewed two new degree programs that are
interdisciplinary, coming from last January’s workshop for faculty on innovation and interdisciplinary programs. These are a BS in Sustainability and a BS degree in Product Design and Entrepreneurship. Both of these new programs were designed with faculty from three schools. The School of Health Science gained approval of a Master of Emergency Management Science. I provide these program’s descriptions.
“The Master of Emergency Management Science is designed to equip graduates with the expertise needed to lead and manage emergency and disaster response efforts, with a strong emphasis on public health, healthcare response and pandemic preparedness. “ (Taken from the AC Agenda)
“The BS in Sustainability program will prepare … problem-solvers and change-makers to address sustainability challenges and contribute to creating a healthy planet that helps people and economies thrive.” (Taken from the AC Agenda). The College of the Pacific, the School of Business, and the School of Engineering and Computer Science are the three collaborators.
The BS in Product Design and Entrepreneurship provides interdisciplinary science and technology-based approaches to entrepreneurship. The program will offer two tracks. One track focuses on five courses in new product design and entrepreneurship. The College of the Pacific, the School of Business, and the School of Engineering and Computer Science are the three collaborators.
Justin Lowe explained that last year, the Council developed faculty advisory boards in technology, admissions, and student life. These groups were formed with Academic Council members to participate at times with members of the Cabinet and the President.
Another important item from the September meeting concerned work to develop a common set of items for student feedback within course evaluations. No specific items were voted on, though Council members approved the motion to have a set of common items for faculty around the university. A Center for Teaching and Learning staff member is helping with this project and she spoke at the meeting.
Vice President for DEI, Mary Lomax Ghirarduzzi addressed Council at the September meeting to update us on the work to have resources, including policies and communications support for diversity initiatives. The office is working on anti-bias education and bias prevention strategies, particularly in faculty hiring and grading in collaboration with the Office of the Provost. A campus climate survey will have results released soon and a student-initiated request last year for religious accommodation guidance for students and faculty is a current project.
Our next meetings will be in November and December. [Marilyn Draheim, Emeriti Society Representative to Academic Council]
Member News....Many Things
Doug and Judy Tedards (Galt, CA) - In May of this year, we flew to Paris for a few days, then took a bullet train from the Gare du Lyon to Basel, SW. There we boarded a Viking longship for a 7-day cruise down the Rhine River to Amsterdam. During that trip we found out that my niece in South Carolina had a male English Springer Spaniel no one wanted from her litter, so we agreed to have him flown out to Sacramento by a professional dog transporter. Buster is now 7 months old and a joyful addition to the family. Two photos attached: Buster at about 5 months and the Bastille Monolith in Paris.
Ravindra C Vasavada - I am happy to share a bit of news about us: Tina and I had a wonderful time cruising the Great Lakes from Milwaukee to Toronto on a Viking ship, Polaris. Weather was perfect for offshore excursions, and we learned a lot about the history of shipwrecks and invasion of foreign species in the fresh waters of the Lakes. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thomas Nelson, Benerd School of Education - I was recently named the recipient of the California Council on Teacher Education Distinguished Career Award, for lifetime achievement based on 24 years of active leadership in the organization and for 12 years serving as the editor of Teacher Education Quarterly. The annual California Council on Teacher Education was held in San Diego, October 17-19, 2024. I was also invited to lead a special 90-minute workshop on Writing for Publication: What Authors Need to Know, Maximizing Opportunities for Success Over 300 college and university-based teacher education faculty were in attendance. I also serve on the advisory board of Issues in Teacher Education. And I also serve as an outside advisor for several Ph.D. students at the University of Arizona.
I am currently serving as the President of the Scenic Santa Ritas Association, a Southern Arizona environmental conservation organization with over 3,000 members, based in Tucson. The organization is part of a larger coalition of partner environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Sky Island Alliance, Audubon Society, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, Earthjustice, among others in pursuit of preserving the natural integrity of the Sky Island region of southeast Arizona, the most biologically diverse region in North America.
Me and my wife Teri of 42 years live at 5000 feet altitude on top of a mountain outside of Tucson, with views of 10 different mountain ranges, where we enjoy solitude within a rich and diverse natural habitat. We often travel to southeast Utah canyonland country and southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico to study cultural and natural history, while seeking out remote wilderness areas for hiking and camping. I am working on numerous writing projects surrounding my vast areas of interest.
Cynthia Wagner Weick - I continue to speak frequently to conservation organizations in the central coast area about the botany, art and conservation challenges of the native Monterey cypress tree. In addition, my article on the history of art photography will appear in the winter edition of the Point Lobos Foundation magazine, and I'm offering a related CSUMB OLLI seminar in February. I'm also working on a book on the art of architecture in old Monterey. As for Brian Weick? When he's not downhill skiing he's been renovating a 1970 convertible Karmann Ghia inside and outside. It should be ready for shows (and jaunts) in summer 2025.
Cathie McClellan - I have moved to Missouri (South Central area). Our homestead is about 52 acres on a mountain, so gardening and farming are not easy, given the rocky nature of Missouri soil and the incline of the mountain, although my brother, Casey, seems to be up to the task. So far, we are doing well with our chickens, guinea fowl, and a few turkeys. He is slowly building up the soil using permaculture/regenerative gardening techniques and each season we have more land to work with and are able to grow more vegetables. The chickens are his willing and enthusiastic partners; the guineas eat ticks and make a lot of noise, and the turkeys mostly gobble and look majestic. One interesting thing I have learned: male guinea fowl have a single syllable call, while female guineas have both a two syllable and a one syllable call. Also, all eggs taste like eggs.
I am working out the kinds of things I want to make as clothing to sell, with an emphasis on upcycle fashions and sustainable sourcing, which means I miss the sorts of thrift stores I had access to while in Stockton. Nothing of the sort is close to where we live now. I came well prepared with lots of stock in hand, though.
I have also restarted my artistic efforts, using found wood and stone and reclaimed yarns. So far I have entered some of my work into a juried competition exhibit, held at the Harlin Museum in West Plains, MO, for two of the last three years. My first year, one of my pieces, “My Missouri Home,” won third place, and this year, one of them, “Cane Circles 2023: Spellbound,” won first place. I have attached pictures of them both. Sorry, I don’t have a better image for “My Missouri Home.”
That’s about it for now.
Cheers
Will Price - My primary care physician says keep active, both “physically and mentally”. This submittal to C and K is a summary of my intellectual topics. These discussions are just an overview of my research at this point. Making progress is too slow, but I do keep “thinking critically”. In retirement, there should be more time, yet activity is often slower than it could be.
1. Supply Chain Operations: Transportation (all modes) and Warehouse Operations (no matter the time in storage)
Supply Chain networks were 2nd class citizens, all we needed was plenty of stock and the ability to delivery to production facilities, be they manufacturing or service operations. But now it is a new sad story as the desire to minimize cost and the quantity of inventory has taken over. Do we care?
The Navy made me a logistician, or supply corps officer, and graduate school gave me an opportunity to study supply chain operations beyond my undergraduate background in Civil Engineering and public infrastructure.
Every aspect of logistics operations can be modelled as a “queuing system”, one of my favorite arenas for in my field of “management science/operations research”. I don’t call it “analytics”, the current popular topics, but the same, maybe better, content.
Queuing analysis requires arrival and service rates of performance, then either Poisson probability distributions or simulations open to any distribution can be applied. My initial focus will be seaport operations, since I have studied seaports for many years. Ports have both limited capacity and random arrivals creating so much “wait” that capacity increases are needed when queues occur. But will such increases be available or do long delays appear to be logistics success?
2. Responsibility for Information Software Design
I became involved in information systems in the early 80s as I served on Apple’s Higher Education Advisory Board, even taught Management Information Systems before the Eberhardt School hired IS faculty.
I am now told I should accept a thinking/learning application called AI, but Tom Friedman and I prefer to us the term IA – Intelligence assistance and to expect “functional managers” to be responsible for software design if not coding for computing. It is not desirable for functional managers, be they health care, production, education or financial, to let IS professionals take this responsibility from them, possibly because they too often seek to avoid analytical thinking.
My argument is that IT staff do not have the competence to understand, model and analyze these functional systems. Let them code if needed, but not design! So much more to see on this debate, but I have been presenting material on this responsibility issue for some time.
3. An Essential STEM
I seek to more broadly define the so often used term STEM. Here is my more complete view of the term STEM:
Science - All three fields of Physical, Biological and Social Science.
Technology – Mostly Engineering disciplines that conceptualize, design and build systems that rely on the wide variety of technologies; “software engineering” is not one of them, for it is not engineering but simply coding.
Economics – A set of academic fields from economics, finance and accounting, all driving decisions on production, service and logistics.
Management – System design modelling and analysis (I don’t want to call it analytics, which is really the study of analysis!). Performance goals include productivity, quality, budgeting and even subjective performance measures. (See my doctoral dissertation on “Award Fee Contracting at NASA”).
4. Water Resource Management
My early undergraduate education in Civil Engineering at Berkeley focused on Water Resources, mentored by a famous son, Hans Einstein. I did spend several years working as a Flood Control Engineer, but now keep in touch by membership on San Joaquin County’s Advisory Water Commission.
My interest in water resources now focuses on Balance between supply and demand, reducing the distance water travels from source to consumption and recycling/reuse of the resource. Special attention is now given to Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) or what I prefer to call “Stream/Storm Water Diversion to Ground Water Recharge”.
Obviously, these infrastructure projects reduce distance, waste and cost. Plenty of issues on water availability, diversion infrastructure and percolation/injection choices remain as local areas attempt to satisfy California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
As I have said before, I welcome any questions or comments on these topics as I attempt to generate research results that can be published for local and broader communities.
Janet Kahn - Greetings to all STK Emeriti members & families from Janet Kahn on behalf of the Sy Kahn family. Sy Kahn, Fay Goldman, and Les Medford would be delighted to learn that the Emeriti Society has continued and thrived since their first efforts many years ago.
I do hope to visit Stockton this coming year. While I am settled in Claremont, in very comfortable senior community, Sy's son and daughter-in-law, David and Kathy, have remained in Oakland. David, who retired also after years as Professor of Theatre at San Jose State University, gave me wonderful assistance in completing my script for Reader's theatre, In Search of Florence Nightingale. Both David and Kathy have kept in close touch with all their friends who are also UOP alumni and alumni of The Fallon Theatre in Columbia, the summer program run by Sy until he retired. They were also partners with three other UOP alums in establishing the Sierra Repertory Theatre in Sonora, over 25 years ago. which now also is located in Fallon House. Starting with the Covid epidemic, Kathy published a series of three novellas about life during the covid years. Theatre life reached the 3rd generation with Sy's grandson, Jeremy, performing for over ten years in the near-by Bay Area and California theatres. He has just moved to the University of Pittsburgh for a two-year commitment for an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy, while his partner Emily is finishing her PhD dissertation in Public Health at the University of California. Meanwhile, his brother Daniel and wife Kerry have recently moved back to Chicago. Daniel, whose genetic roots have endowed him with immense mathematical skills, has become a tutor for students throughout the country. Several
years ago, Kerry gave up tutoring administration, and switched to Nursing, after studying for her R.N. at Loyola University. In her spare time (!), she is also an avid and successful marathoner.
Bob Oprandy - I have transferred my pedagogical skills to coaching sculling and helping to run Delta Sculling Center, founded by my wife, Pat Tirone, a graduate of and former instructor and clinical coordinator in Pacific's PT Department. Pat and I are spearheading an initiative to create an Aquatic Center in Stockton that will give equitable access to our Delta waterways in all kinds of human-powered watercraft to EVERYbody, regardless of financial and other constraints.
Besides coaching this full-body, low-impact sport that uses 86% of the muscles in our bodies, I enjoy competing at regattas. At 77, I was the oldest competitor at this fall's Head of the American Regatta at Lake Natoma, finishing ahead of 3 of the 9 in the men's single 5-km sculling race.
My nonprofit organization seeks volunteers, especially on Wednesday and Thursday mornings when Delta Sculling Center works with civilians and military veterans with physical and other challenges and you don't need to know how to row. If interested, contact Bob at roprandy@pacific.edu.
In Memoriam
Steven Anderson
September 7, 1936 – October 23, 2024
Callison College - COP Biology Department
Steven ("Steve") Anderson passed away at his home on Wednesday October 23, 2024.
His schooling began at Rosemead High, graduating in 1953. From there he went to the University of California, Riverside where he studied Zoology, graduating in 1957. His post graduate studies included an MA degree in Biology from San Francisco State and a PhD, also in Biology, from Stanford. He graduated in 1966.
His career after graduation, began as curator and researcher in the Department of Herpetology at the California Academy of Sciences Herpetology is the scientific study of amphibians and reptiles. It can include the study of the biology of amphibians and reptiles and the role of amphibians and reptiles in global ecology. Steve's focus was on biology.
In 1970, he became a faculty member at Callison College, one of the cluster colleges at the University of the Pacific specializing in international and intercultural education. Callison closed in 1982 and its programs were transferred to the College of the Pacific. Steve joined the Department of Biology. He remained in the department until his retirement in 1996. An interesting part of his career at Pacific was the desire to involve students with one-to-one involvement with people in the less privileged areas of Stockton. He team taught a course with Tappan Monroe, who was an economist Students had a chance to learn about the projected plans of the city, with respect to the environment, social communities, placement of the cross-town freeway, which subsequently went ahead and cut off the less privileged from the well privileged in Stockton.
After retiring, Steve continued as Research Associate in Herpetology at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. There his research interests centered on natural history.
Steve family includes his wife Kay and son Malcolm.
Alan Budenz School of Dentistry
Budenz, professor emeritus at the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. School of Dentistry, died recently after a short illness. He was 73. three weeks after he was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic
from the dental school in 2023, leaving behind a remarkable legacy impacting thousands of lives as a teacher, mentor and friend.
Budenz graduated from the UCSF School of Dentistry in 1982 and earned a Master of Business Administration from University of the Pacific in 2000. He also earned a Master of Science in anatomy at UCLA in 1977 and a bachelor’s degree in Zoology at Oregon State University in 1972.
Budenz was honored with many prestigious awards, including twice receiving the Lucien Szymd Memorial Award (a high honor chosen by students), the Dugoni School’s Distinguished Faculty Award and University of the Pacific’s Distinguished Faculty Award, the highest faculty honor across the entire university.
A 1982 graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, Budenz began teaching one day a week at the Dugoni School in 1984. He maintained a private practice in the Marina District of San Francisco until 1992.
Budenz also gave to the school in many other ways, including leading more than 10 international student service trips to Jamaica and the Philippines to promote global experiences and sponsoring boat trips and swimming events for students to help them manage stress. He is the only individual to have served as president of both the Dugoni School of Dentistry Alumni Association and the UCSF School of Dentistry Alumni Association.
He also gave his talent and time to organized dentistry, holding several leadership positions during his career. Budenz served on the American Dental Education Association Task Force on Competencies and Foundation Knowledge advisory board, the Northern California Section of the American College of Dentists board and the California Dental Association Presents board of managers.
In addition, he lectured nationally and internationally on local anesthesia, human anatomy, cariology and oral medicine/oral pathology topics. From 2005 to 2023, he was recognized each year by Dentistry Today as a leader in dental continuing education
“Alan touched the lives of thousands of members of the Dugoni School family including students, residents, staff, faculty, patients and graduates,” said Dean and Vice Provost Nader A. Nadershahi ’94. “He lived life to the fullest and lived a life of distinction. I will sorely miss him and his unwavering dedication to our school and profession.”
Leonard Humphreys
September 9, 1924 - July 26, 2024
International Studies
Leonard Alfred Humphreys died on July 26, 2024, at age 99. He was born to Marie Priscilla Clermont and Percival William Humphreys in Troy, New York on September 9, 1924.
Leonard graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) in 1945 and began his career as an officer in the United States Army. On February 7, 1948, he married the love of his life, Sally Burgess. They traveled the world together during Leonard's military career and his later academic career, making life-long friends and gaining respect for the world's people and cultures.
Soon after their marriage, Leonard undertook a general study of the language, history, culture and military affairs of Japan through The Foreign Area Studies Training Program from July 1948-June 1952, including study at the U.S. Army Language School, Monterey, California, Stanford University, and the U.S. Army Foreign Area Studies Training School, Tokyo, Japan. Leonard served in both Korea and Japan, including service at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo from 1955- 1959 as assistant attaché, and service in the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) Japan from 1962-1965 as an intelligence advisor to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and as Assistant Chief of Staff, MAAG, Japan.
After Leonard retired from the military at the rank of Lt. Col., he received his PhD from Stanford University, and served as a professor of Southeast Asian History at the University of the Pacific (UOP) from 1970-1991. While at UOP he served as Chair of the University of the Pacific's International Studies Major Program from 1981-1987. Leonard was awarded the Order of the Pacific in 1991 and continued to serve as Professor Emeritus for many years after his retirement.
Leonard also served as a visiting professor at Kwansei Gakuin University in Nishinomiya, Japan in 1985 and again in 1994. From 1970 until Sally's death in 2015, they lived in Lodi, California. After Sally's death, Leonard moved to O'Connor Woods in Stockton, California.
Leonard and Sally had three children, Pamela Ryan who lives with her husband, Eric Ryan in Pleasanton, California; Elizabeth Humphreys, who is married to George Abdallah and lives in Morada, California; and William Humphreys who is married to Kelly McLaughlin and lives in Stockton, California. Leonard leaves behind four grandchildren: Adam Humphreys Street of Oakland, Christopher Paul Ryan (Marta Ryan) of Roseville, Dana Elizabeth Ryan-Margott (Vinny Margott) of Simi Valley, and Jillian Marie Humphreys of Stockton. He will also be missed by his two great grandchildren, Odin Humphreys Ryan and Carl John Ryan.
Leonard loved teaching, whether it was his children and grandchildren, his students at UOP, or his friends at O'Connor Woods. He was reading, studying, and planning lectures and educational talks just before he died. Leonard never tired of advancing his knowledge and understanding of the world. He worked tirelessly with the Lodi Library as a Community Board Member, Friend of the Library, and in the adult reading program so everyone would have access to books and other educational resources.
Leonard was a man of honesty and integrity. He enjoyed sharing his unique and often intriguing life experiences with family, friends, and students. He always left his listeners with a balanced view of history and the full context needed to understand a complex and ever-changing world.
We will miss him terribly. The Humphreys Family.