In his Strategic Plan for Undergraduate Education, Dean McLeod said that the University’s mission to undergraduates is: “To build and sustain an undergraduate experience of exceptional quality where students, known by name and story, prepare themselves for lives of purpose and meaning.”

As an RA, I hear this phrase ad infinitum, but it stuck. Names are easy. I tried to know all of my residents’ names before the second day of orientation, and I think I got them pretty rapidly. The same goes for those of other folks I’ve met during my time at Wash. U. Of course, there are those brain farts when I see someone’s face that I know well and, no matter the effort, can’t dredge a name out of my brain — but putting a face to a name is something at which I think I’m generally proficient.

The stories of people are far more difficult. Do you know how much time it takes to get to know a floor of 40 freshmen?! And not just know them by acknowledging what schools they’re in, or where they’re from, but to know what they like and don’t like, what makes them laugh, what upsets them. Add to that my residents from last year and then to that the group of acquaintances I’ve made over the last three years. For all of us, these numbers are practically impossible to grasp. Look at your Facebook friends; how many of them do you actually know? How many more do you just brush past in the DUC every day, with barely a hint of acknowledgement?

I never knew Dean McLeod besides a friendly “Hello” around campus, the same kind of “Hello” that I give plenty of my fellow students. It’s a “Hello” to which I don’t want to be tied. The task to go beyond “Hello” with everyone we know is nothing short of Sisyphean But I want to make the effort. I’m as overcommitted as the next person, but I want to make it a goal in my senior year to make time for others, friends and acquaintances, and to get to know them—not just by name, but by their story.

In an email, Associate Dean of Students Jill Stratton said that Dean McLeod believed wholeheartedly in the “power of personal relationships” at our university. We cannot support ourselves alone. It is only through our interactions with friends, teachers, administrators, advisors, coworkers, and classmates that we can truly achieve our full potential. We do not only rely on this support system, we are a part of it; and we can strengthen it further by reaching out to those that we know by name and finding out their story, too.

Lee donated to Washington University on the condition that professors agree to spend a significant amount of their time working within the community and collaborating with one another—a vision that not only benefits collegians, but also the entire community.

To date, Collaborative Vision has created 33 professorships, including four at Washington University.

These professorships include the E. Desmond Lee Professorship for Collaboration in the Arts, currently held by Carmon Colangelo, dean of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts; the E. Desmond Lee Professorship for Community Collaboration, held by Bruce Lindsey, dean of the College of Architecture and the Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design; the E. Desmond Lee Professor of Racial and Ethnic Diversity, held by Sarah Gehlert in the George Warren Brown School of Social Work; and the E. Desmond Lee Professor in Entrepreneurship.

In addition, Lee supported and served on the board of numerous community organizations, such as the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA, United Way of Greater St. Louis, the St. Louis Science Center, the St. Louis Zoo, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Missouri Historical Society, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, St. Louis Art Museum and Ranken Technical College.

An avid lover of music, Lee was a great patron of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) as well.

“His support was tremendous, not just in treasure but in spirit. There was no better cheerleader for this organization,” SLSO president and executive director Fred Bronstein said. “Des always understood the challenges inherent in sustaining a great orchestra and never lacked optimism and belief that it was a vital institution to this city. Of course, beyond the SLSO, Des was a force in Saint Louis; his impact will be felt for years to come.”

Lee was born on Aug. 6, 1917, in Sikeston, Mo., and grew up in Columbia, Mo. He attended Washington University on a full scholarship and played as captain of the University basketball team. In 1940, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration and then enlisted in the Army during World War II.

After the war, Lee made his fortune by founding Lee-Rowan Co. along with his father Edgar, college classmate Jim Rowan and Rowan’s father Jim. The company manufactured patented metal trouser creasers, hangers and wire shelves that were sold to retailers.

Lee’s prolific career as an illustrious and award-winning philanthropist took off in 1993 when he sold his company to what is now Newell-Rubbermaid.

Lee is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; children Gary Lee, Christy Pope and Gayle Lee; and two stepchildren, Andrew C. Taylor and Jo Ann Taylor Kindle. He is also survived by four grandchildren: David Lee, a professional basketball player with the New York Knicks; Elizabeth Johnson; Desmond Duggan; and Lyrica Marquez; and by five step-grandchildren: Christine Taylor, Patricia Taylor, Carolyn Kindle, Alison Kindle and Kelly Taylor; and two great-grandchildren.

Nussbaum was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany, in 1925. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his brother was arrested on Kristallnacht in 1938, only to be released, re-arrested and sent to Auschwitz. Nussbaum and his sister escaped to Belgium shortly after Kristallnacht via the Kindertransport train, which carried German children away to safety.

Nussbaum was separated from his sister in Belgium and then fled to southern France and finally to Switzerland. Swiss authorities jailed him, but he fabricated a story and was released. Nussbaum studied mathematics at the University of Zurich. His parents and brother died at Auschwitz.

“I knew that he’d had a rough time in the war, but I never knew any of the details,” said Edward Wilson, a professor of mathematics at the University who knew Nussbaum for 40 years. “For him it was a private matter. It was in the past, and he didn’t want to revisit it.”

According to Wilson and Professor of Mathematics Guido Weiss, Nussbaum arrived in New York in 1947 with little money. He took courses at Brooklyn College and attended Columbia University for graduate work in mathematics. He received his master’s degree from Columbia in 1950, and Columbia appointed him a lecturer only one year later.

“That doesn’t happen very often,” Wilson said. “That means they thought very, very highly of him.”

Nussbaum worked on the electronic computer project headed by John von Neumann at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. This electronic computer project led to the building of one of the first computers.

After serving as a faculty member at multiple institutions and receiving his Ph.D. from Columbia in 1957, Nussbaum became an assistant professor of mathematics at Washington University in 1958. He had already published several papers, which most new Ph.D.s do not accomplish, Wilson said. He continued to work in the areas of Hilbert spaces, and he was promoted to full professor in 1965.

Wilson said he was impressed with Nussbaum’s teaching.

“If you were interested in the subject and wanted to really understand what was going on, start in the beginning and build gradually…he gave great courses,” Wilson said.
Nussbaum is survived by Anne, his wife of 52 years, and their children Karl and Franziska.

“We certainly knew him as a very kind, gentle man,” Wilson said.

“I’ll remember her as a wonderful teacher, coach, administrator, mother, friend, and valued member of the Washington University community,” Athletic Director John Schael said.

Imergoot, most recently the associate director of club and intramural sports, started work at Wash. U. in 1973 as the director of women’s and co-ed intramurals, a post she held until 1979. She also served in the administration as coordinator for women’s athletics from 1977-84 and assistant athletic director from 1984-2005.

In addition to all of her work behind a desk, Imergoot will be most remembered as the first and longtime coach of the Wash. U. women’s tennis team, a post she held from 1975-2005. During her 30-year tenure as coach, the Bears compiled a record of 435-164 (.726) and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances. Six players also earned seven All-America distinctions during her tenure.

“Establishing and coaching the initial women’s tennis program was a great accomplishment for Lynn as there were few opportunities for women’s participation in intercollegiate athletics.  She was, in a sense, a pioneer and indeed strong advocate for the advancement of women’s athletics on the Danforth Campus and was proud of Washington University’s commitment to enhanced opportunities for women in sport,” Schael added.

In addition to starting the women’s tennis program, Imergoot also helped Schael and the rest of the athletic department introduce cross country, indoor track, basketball, soccer, softball and golf as women’s varsity programs. Wash. U. now has one more women’s varsity program than men’s program with the addition of women’s golf in 2008.

The accident occurred while Imergoot was driving from a summer sports camp to a scheduled dentist appointment.

She is survived by her son Douglas, 31, daughter Jennifer, 28, and sister Amy Kossak. The funeral was Monday in Livingston, N.J., and she was buried in nearby Deans, N.J.

A memorial service will occur on campus next month.

Benecke was a highly accomplished student—he earned a perfect ACT score, was co-valedictorian of the Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School Class of 2006, and was honored in 2006 as a Presidential Scholar. He transferred to Washington University after briefly attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Katy Southworth, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, attended high school with Andrew and recalled his excellence in academics.

“We had AP Chemistry together and he pretty much taught the class,” Southworth remembered. “He was really quick-witted and really smart.”

In addition to his academic achievements, Andrew is remembered for his warm personality and strong faith in Jesus.

He is survived by his father, Dr. James Benecke, Jr., and mother, Barbara Benecke.

A memorial service will be held for Andrew at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church, 1230 Big Bend Blvd. in Ballwin, Mo. on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1:00 p.m. A private burial will be held at Forever Bellerive in Creve Coeur.