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Events
Retirement tributes CALVIN LEGACY
Deb Bakker Kinesiology
Colleagues and students have been blessed by Deb Bakker ’82. They emphasize her joyfulness, creativity, humor, energy, determination, and the ways that she has served the people around her. After graduating from Calvin, Deb returned in 1994 as a kinesiology professor and coach. Deb coached women’s soccer and softball in the 1990s and early 2000s, served on countless committees, and found time to run the clock for men’s basketball at Calvin.
Paul Fields Meeter Center/Hekman Library
Over his 30 years at Calvin as a theological librarian and curator of the Meeter Center collection, Paul Fields’ pastoral approach and sense of fun has blessed many. The tables outside Paul’s office have been home to many conversations with students and colleagues about their challenges, hopes, and joys. Calm, patient, and ever-helpful, he has modeled service to students, staff, and faculty alike.
Deb Bakker Larry Herzberg
Doug Howard
Nancy Meyer
Kenneth Pomykala Karen Saupe
Larry Herzberg Chinese, Asian Studies
For over three decades, Larry Herzberg ’81 brought a performer’s flare to whatever he did as he invested in his colleagues and students. He joyfully and playfully engaged his students, putting them at ease and giving them confidence. Colleagues and students alike will miss Larry’s enthusiastic advocacy for language learning and Asian cultures, his eternal optimism, and his kindness.
Doug Howard History
In his 33 years at Calvin, Doug Howard’s vast knowledge, kindness, and approachability have earned him a reputation as one of the history department’s best teachers, admired for his passion, humor, and insistence on asking hard questions. He was also a superb department chair, fair-minded, thorough, and attentive to detail and to each colleague’s particular needs and concerns. He is a kind and generous Christian soul.
Nancy Meyer Kinesiology
Nancy Meyer ’78 has been a coach, teacher, and mentor at Calvin since 1979. She not only excelled in specific roles, she also did whatever the team needed. She served as head for women’s and men’s swimming, women’s tennis, and women’s cross country, and as an assistant coach in various sports. She was director of women’s athletics, co-director of athletics, and athletics compliance director. Colleagues describe Nancy as a mentor for them, not just for students.
Kenneth Pomykala Religion
Kenneth Pomykala ’76 MDiv ’81 returned to Calvin in 1988 to teach in the religion department and has been department chair for 16 of the last 18 years. He made his duties look almost effortless and brought intelligence and curiosity to all his teaching. Whenever there’s been a question about some department or Calvin matter, it’s been assumed that Ken would be able to sort it out—and he always could.
Karen Saupe English
In 1994, Karen Saupe joined Calvin’s English department, and 27 years later, she retires after four years of chairing the department and several years as director of the Rhetoric Center. Karen dearly loves a laugh, and her colleagues have always appreciated her energy, wit, and irrepressible knack for making work fun. Although she takes her work very seriously, she also always takes it with a smile.
