Alumni Bulletin - Winter 2008 - (Page 33)

The students responded. The year after the student strike, when Amidon, who does not hold a Ph.D., was about to lose his job for lack of credentialing, students threatened another boycott and Amidon’s position was preserved. In 1977, Amidon received Lehigh’s Stabler Award for excellence in teaching, and in 1983, the 10-year alumni class honored him with the university’s first W. Deming Lewis Award. Amidon’s devotion to his students, alumni said, continues long after they have left Lehigh. “We still keep in touch,” McBride said. “We talk on the phone once a month or so, and whenever I’m in town, I stop to visit him.” “To have Dave Amidon as a friend,” said Joe Uliana ’87, a former Pennsylvania state senator, “is to have someone who will be loyal to you the rest of your life. Dave worked on every one of my campaigns. He loved to stuff envelopes. He would quiz the other volunteers with the surgical precision of a defense attorney, asking them where they came from, asking them about their friends.” At one point during the tribute, Don Miles asked the crowd at Lamberton Hall: “If you invited Dave Amidon to your wedding, please stand up.” Thirty-ﬁve people, almost a third of those present, rose from their seats. T hree professors who also joined the faculty in the mid1960s paid homage to Amidon at the dinner. Ned Heindel, professor of chemistry, remembered the scrupulous notes that Amidon took during his 20 years of service—longest in Lehigh history—as secretary to the faculty. James McIntosh, professor of sociology, called Amidon a “Methuselah … who suffers from ADHD but knows more history than anyone and sets the standard for sartorial splendor.” J. Richard Aronson, professor of economics, recalled Amidon’s prowess with a Frisbee in the 1960s and his unsuccessful bid for Bethlehem City Council. “I gave Dave $25 for that campaign—the only political contribution I ever made in my life. He sent me back $10 and kept $15 for himself.” Amidon, who has diabetes and poor eyesight, issued a gentle warning after he was guided to the podium. “You’re very sweet,” he said, “but there will be a quiz afterwards.” He gestured toward two large tables directly to his left, where his children, in-laws, and grandchildren were seated. “I wasn’t sure anyone would show up; that’s why I invited my whole family,” he quipped. “All of my nine grandchildren live within ﬁve to 10 minutes of my house. I think that’s just amazing. You know, 40 years ago, when I ﬁrst came to Lehigh, I was something of an international left-winger and I thought it was the whole world that mattered. I didn’t think of family as being so important. I rejoice now that I’ve lived long enough to ﬁnd out otherwise. “I give my wife credit for that. It’s been tough at times. But she held our family together so I could reap the beneﬁt. My family and my students have given me so much more than I could ever hope to thank you for. “Lehigh has a wonderful atmosphere; that’s why we all want to be here. Of course, in my case, I had the additional motivation that I couldn’t go anywhere else.” The last word was left to Ann Amidon. “When our children were growing up, we tried to forget about school during summer vacations. During the month of August, we imposed a moratorium on anyone using the word ‘school.’ But inevitably, by the middle of the month, Dave couldn’t help himself. He would come home from Lehigh, all excited, and say, ‘Only one more week and the freshmen will be here!’ “Dave doesn’t really want to leave Lehigh. He just knows it’s time.” The DVD shown at Amidon’s farewell dinner credited several dozen alumni for making the evening and the Amidon scholarship possible. They were Ollie Foucek ’72, Parker, Tod Bahr ’80, Rob Nahigian ’78, Jess Browne ’06, Staci Heller Gelb ’92, Robert Grzywacz ’72, Thalassa Tonks ’02, Nicole Witt ’90, Janet Tucker ’85G, Rich Czarnomski ’89, Mary Kate McKenna ’89, Karen Randall ’83, Rob Edwards, Warren Fuller ’73, McBride, J.H. Barr ’92, Uliana, Jeremy McKeon ’08, Finn Wentworth ’80, Stu Kutzer ’67, Denny Diehl ’70, Geoff Diehl ’92 and Gene Mater ’71, along with Ann Neitzel and Scott Snyder. The DVD gave special thanks to Chris Marshall ’88, executive director of the Alumni Association, and Ann Amidon ’70G. If you would like a copy of the DVD, contact Chris Marshall at chris.marshall@lehigh.edu. LU PHOTOS BY JOHN KISH IV Above, master of ceremonies Michael Smerconish regales the crowd. Right, Finn Wentworth ’80 presents a check representing money donated by alumni to endow a scholarship in Amidon’s name. winter 2008 33

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Alumni Bulletin - Winter 2008

Alumni Bulletin - Winter 2008 Contents From the President's Desk Mailbox On Campus Research Arts & Culture Sports Ugly is in the Eye of the Beholder Fitch's Law of Motion A Blessing to the Community The Amidonian Acclamation China Trip Bridges Cultures, Generations From the Publisher's Desk Alumni News The Last Word

Alumni Bulletin - Winter 2008

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