In Tribute

Remembering Campus Legends

Charles Condon

Charles Condon, whose wisdom, institutional knowledge, and dedication to the University of Hartford touched the campus community for more than four decades, died last Dec. 13.

Condon began his tenure at the University in 1969 and would go on to work under four different UHart presidents (Archibald Woodruff, Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, Humphrey Tonkin, and Walter Harrison) before retiring in 2007. Initially hired by Woodruff to serve as associate provost, Condon’s legal knowledge and background (two law degrees from Harvard) soon led to his appointment as general counsel and University secretary, the position he held upon retirement.

Condon remained involved on campus in subsequent years, serving as a special assistant to the president for five years. His impact on campus spanned many areas. Condon was a founding member of the board of the van Rooy Center for Complexity and Conflict Analysis. He was an integral member of the University’s annual Martin Luther King Day Planning Committee for more than a dozen years.

“Charles Condon had an enormous influence on the University of Hartford and on me personally,” recalls President Emeritus Harrison. “He was a trusted advisor and good friend. He handled all of his assignments with grace and humility, both as legal counsel and as secretary of the University.”

President Emeritus Tonkin, who preceded Harrison, was also greatly influenced by Condon, describing him as “the ideal university counsel: careful and measured in his relationship with the law, loyal and creative in his relationship with higher education. He and I worked together throughout my presidency. I depended heavily on his advice, his good sense, his coolheadedness, and his candor.”

Condon was a major champion of the John G. Martin and Marion A. Bills Scholarship, awarded to senior University of Hartford students to support two years of graduate study at Oxford University’s Hertford College. He worked with then-President Trachtenberg to create the scholarship and spent many years developing and maintaining strong relationships with Oxford representatives.

Condon became a member of the Emeriti Association—an organization he himself created 25 years earlier—in 2014 and one year later was part of its executive committee, a role he remained in until his passing.

Among the many contributions Condon made to campus, as described in the Fall 2021 edition of the Emeriti Association’s newsletter, was the donation he made of a ceremonial University mace—a subject that always brought a smile to his face. “Like a proud father, he always reminded University marshals about the proper handling (no fingerprints) of the mace during Commencement,” the newsletter stated.

See full comments and stories remembering Charles Condon at hartford.edu/condon-memories

To hear about the disappearance of a friend that has been so much part of the history of the University is a shock… Charles will remain forever in the history of this University of Hartford as one of its builders and will be remembered for his love of its faculty, staff, students, and leaders.

Jean Pierre van Rooy, Life Regent, Chairman of the Center for Complexity and Conflict Analysis

During University commencement ceremonies I have had the honor for many years to carry the University mace that Charles donated to the University. He was so proud of that Mace and explained to me the history on many occasions. And reminded me to never touch the silver!

Jane Horvath, Founding Director, van Rooy Center for Complexity and Conflict Analysis. Director, Minor in Complexity

We had a mutual love of dogs—the bigger the better. And the stories he’d tell about his pets were such fun to listen to.

Randi Ashton-Pritting, former Director of Harrison Libraries

With a twinkle in his eye, Charles’ quick wit and sense of humor sometimes disguised his very serious side that resulted in valuable, sage advice to those requesting it. Charles was extremely devoted to the University of Hartford and had a good understanding of its workings from its inception in 1957, right up to when he retired and beyond.

Paddy Cairns, former Executive Assistant to the President

I always knew where Charles stood on the often knotty issues that we had to deal with, but I was also always assured of his support. He knew the University of Hartford, and its history, like the back of his hand. So much of what I learned, I learned from him. I will miss him and his good sense.

Humphrey Tonkin, President Emeritus

Charles loved the University and its mission and frequently used this quote from Daniel Webster in the early 19th century, referring to Dartmouth College: “It is a small college, sir, but there are those who love it.” No one loved the University as much as Charles did.

Walter Harrison, President Emeritus

Peter Breit

Peter K. Breit, professor emeritus in the College of Arts and Sciences, died last Oct. 2.

He served the University of Hartford for 34 years, distinguishing himself as a teacher, a scholar, and a University citizen. Breit joined the University in 1964, teaching in the Department of Politics and Government, and became the department chair in 1968. He was honored with the Roy E. Larsen Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1981.

A commentator on international relations, the Soviet Union, Germany, and strategic policies, Breit participated on panels in Europe and the United States. He delivered papers on the topics of displaced persons, routing out fascism, war and peace, and teaching political science, and was frequently interviewed by local and national media. His publications centered on war and morality, and military occupation as an instrument of national policy, and he served as president of the Northeastern Political Science Association. Breit received University of Hartford Coffin faculty grants, and fellowships from Yale University, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, and the Army War College. In 1963, he received a Fulbright grant for research in Germany.

When he wasn’t in the classroom, or in his office advising a student, Breit was deeply immersed in the complex process of governing the University. He was the first faculty member to hold the major offices of the Faculty Senate twice; served on and chaired nearly every college and University committee; and was a five-time University regent. Breit received the Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Award for Service to the University in 1989.

In honor of his legacy, the University established an endowed Peter K. Breit Scholarship Fund.

His intolerance for imperfection, his demands made on intellectual prowess, his ruthlessly high expectations all assured every student, especially me, that we would “find the third side to a two-sided argument.”

Joe Olzacki ’85, ’86, M’94, D’01

Peter was a man of towering intellect, profound passion, and an instinctive sense of humor that made average punsters like me feel embarrassed to be in the same room. We didn’t always see eye to eye on University of Hartford matters— and went eyeball to eyeball on occasion—but invariably maintained mutual respect and deep friendship.

Harald Sandstrom, Emeritus Associate Professor of Politics and Government

Peter was the quintessential professor, devoting himself to his students, his teaching, his scholarship, and his university. I served on the Senate while Peter was the chair and admired his calm and even- handed leadership. Perhaps my most cherished memory is the incredible kindness he showed to me when I arrived on campus in 1985. I was not in his department or his college, but he went out of his way to make me feel welcome and show me the ropes.

Fred Sweitzer, University of Hartford Provost

Peter Breit

All photos courtesy of the University of Hartford Archives and Special Collections