In Memoriam: William Gwinn
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by Mary T. Bush ’51
any Nazareth College students between the years 1950 and 1981 have fond memories of Dr. William Gwinn, professor of history and longtime chairman of the history department. We were saddened to learn that Dr. Gwinn, professor emeritus, had died on December 7, 2010, his 88th birthday. Dr. Gwinn received his A.B. degree in history from the University of Notre Dame in 1943. He then was drafted for service in the army during WWII and saw action in the Battle of the Bulge. Following his war service, he returned to the University of Notre Dame and received an M.A. in history in 1948 and his Ph.D. in 1953. His doctoral dissertation was published in 1957 under the title Uncle Joe Canon, Archfoe of Insurgency. Dr. Gwinn was the history department when he arrived at Nazareth. He had been highly recommended by his dissertation mentor, Dr. Aaron Abell, who had earlier taught history at Nazareth. Two years later, he secured my appointment as instructor in history. Throughout his time at Nazareth, Dr. Gwinn was always helpful to the students and faculty of his department. I personally am grateful for his concern and help. I can remember his helping me to “plot” the topic for my Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Ottawa and prodding me to start to write when I thought I needed more time to do research. Needless to say, he was right! Dr. Gwinn served on many committees at Nazareth, including Rank and Tenure and the Library Committee. Indeed, after his retirement he continued to recommend books on history and other subjects to the library staff, according to former librarian Richard Matzek. We are especially grateful for his chronicle of the first 50 years of Nazareth College, published for our 50th anniversary in 1974. Upon his official retirement in 1984, former students and faculty at Nazareth established the Dr. William R. Gwinn History Award for seniors in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and
commitment to the field of history. The award is still given each year. As the one suggesting the establishment of this fund in his memory, history graduate and Director of Development Laurel Roth Tarcinale ’68 wrote to history majors noting some of the trivia associated with Dr. Gwinn. Her trivia included his well-stacked set of note cards, his dry sense of humor, and his green corduroy jacket (never without a necktie!). Many of you who had Dr. Gwinn have your own memories, but I am sure all would agree that he was a true gentleman scholar and historian, who could answer questions on any subject and could connect dates with significant historical events. Indeed, he always connected my birthday as falling between the battle of Saratoga and that of Yorktown! And of course his was on December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. Dr. Gwinn’s funeral service, with military honors, was held on December 13, 2010, at St. Michael the Archangel Chapel in Palatine, Illinois. Memorials can be made to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, Attn. Sister Rosemary Connelly, 6300 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660 or to the Dr. William R. Gwinn History Award Fund, Nazareth College, 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618. Dr. Mary T. Bush ’51 is professor emerita of history and political science at Nazareth.
New Math and Science Center Approved Nazareth College is proud to announce that the board of trustees has officialy approved construction of the campus’s new Integrated Center for Math and Science. Estimated to cost $30.5 million, the four-floor building will house state-of-the-art labs and classrooms serving biology, chemistry, physics, math, computing, and ecology. The center will also be designed according to LEED standards, with expected certification at the silver level. With a majority of required funding committed, trustees expressed confidence that seeing the building actually taking shape on campus would provide the momentum needed to secure the remaining $2.5 million in philanthropic support needed to fully fund the project. As Connections went to press, ground-breaking was scheduled for April 2011, with completion projected for fall 2012. For more information, visit www.forcollegeandcommunity.org. www.naz.edu
CONNECTIONS | SPRING 2011 9