UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 6, Page 9
October 5, 1995
Faculty read memorial tributes to three colleagues

     Memorial tributes to three deceased faculty members were read by
their colleagues at Monday's semiannual general faculty meeting.
     Remembered were Charles Bohner, professor of English; David L.
Norton, professor of philosophy; and William Walsh Breslin III,
retired associate director of recreation/intramural programs.

     Recalling his colleague, Prof. Jay Halio noted that Bohner was
the longest serving member of the English department, having taught at
Delaware since 1955. A native Delawarean, Bohner received his
undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and his doctorate from
the University of Pennsylvania. "After teaching for two years at
Syracuse, he came home to Delaware," Halio said, "and except for trips
abroad during sabbatical leaves and faculty exchanges, he never left."
     During his tenure at Delaware, Bohner founded and directed the
American Studies Program, the Semester-in-London Program and the
London Theatre Program. He was one of the original members of the the
Freshman Honors Program and chaired the department's graduate program
for three years.
     "Few students will ever forget his scintillating lectures and
classroom demonstrations," said Halio, observing that Bohner was also
a superb raconteur who delighted friends and colleagues with stories
about the department and the University.
     Recognized as "a fine scholar," Bohner was the author of several
books including studies of John Pendleton Kennedy and Robert Penn
Warren, an anthology of short stories and a novel, Bold Journey,
published in 1985.
     "It is Charles' wit and humor, his warmth and his generous spirit
that we will miss as the years go by," Halio said. "He was a giving
and a caring man. Taken for all in all, we shall not look upon his
like again."

     Describing his colleague David Norton, Paul Durbin called him "a
cooperative colleague, a true friend, a peacemaker in times of
conflict and an all-around wonderful person, even if occasionally
loquacious."
     A faculty member since 1966, Norton had spent the last 10 years
helping to establish the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program, in
which he regularly taught an ethics course. According to Durbin,
another favorite course in recent years was Norton's "Philosophies of
Life," where anecdotes "from his varied and diverse background turned
his classes into vivid learning experiences for literally thousands of
students."
     His academic reputation was based on two major philosophical
books, Personal Destinies and Democracy and Moral Development, in
addition to nearly 100 articles, essays and reviews. Norton edited
Philosophies of Love with his wife, Mary, and a short book, Japanese
Buddhism and the American Renaissance , that was published in 1993 in
both Japanese and English versions. But, Durbin said, the capstone of
his career will be Imagination, Understanding and Virtue of
Liberality, to be published posthumously.
     Durbin noted that while Norton enjoyed wide recognition in the
philosophical world and received an honorary doctorate from Soka
University in Japan, he also retained an interest in U.S. Forest
Service smoke jumpers, a job he had held himself almost 50 years ago.
"His death, of cancer, came with remarkable suddenness. But his long,
varied and diverse life, lived to the full, enriched many," Durbin
said.

     David Barlow recognized his former colleague, William Wash
Breslin as the creator of the University's 27-year-old "highly
successful and popular intramural program."
     Breslin, whose education at Ohio Wesleyan University was
interrupted by athletic injuries and the military draft, returned to
his studies at the University of Delaware in 1957, where he received a
bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's degree in
education. He was a physical education teacher at Medill and Central
Elementary schools before taking the position as director of
recreation and intramurals at the University in 1963.
     Actively involved in the New Student Orientation Program for the
college, he also provided academic and professional counseling for
upperclass students. "Affectionately referred to by his students and
colleagues as 'Mr. B.,' a title of great respect, his office door was
always open," Barlow said.
     Barlow noted that his colleague was a founding member of the
Delaware Recreation and Parks Society, which led to today's highly
successful Newark Parks and Recreation Program.
     Breslin retired from the University in 1991.
     "This quiet, friendly man was an exemplary leader and ambassador
of our college and the University of Delaware, who will be deeply
missed," Barlow said.

     After the eulogies, President David Roselle spoke to the faculty
about becoming a more student-centered institution, reiterating
achievements to date ranging from the Honors Program to the new
student center, from the Student Services Building to the
Undergraduate Research Program. He said that now is the time for
curricular innovation, and he asked the faculty to consider a number
of curricular issues. In particular, he said that faculty should think
about whether the requirements for electives are meeting the purpose
envisioned, whether there should be a core curriculum and whether
students should have an increased role in the design of their
curriculum.