In Memoriam
We are saddened to note the passing of emeriti who played essential roles in the development, growth, and evolution of their academic departments. Below we note their names as news of their passing reaches us. Please reach out to the Executive Board if you have updates to share. Links to obituaries are greatly appreciated.
Professor Emeritus, History
August 21, 2023
Died at the age of 90, due to complications from a fall in June. Obituary.
David Allen Fredrickson, an archaeologist noted for his sensitive excavations of California's ancient American Indian sites, died Aug. 28 at a care home in Walnut Creek. He was 85. During his long career as a professor of archaeology at Sonoma State University, Dr. Fredrickson was also widelyknown for his more informal career performing as a guitar-playing singer of cowboy songs. His immense folksong repertoire has been recorded by the Smithsonian Institution's Folkways program.
Read more about
Professor Emeritus, Hutchins
December 15, 2019
You can view his obituary and share memories at https://everloved.com/life-of/david-averbuck/obituary/.
Professor Emeritus, Sociology; previous Dean of Extended Education
June 6, 2020
David died after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. He is survived by his wife Lucia Gattone. David was committed to the causes of human rights and social justice. He authored a book, "The Activist's Almanac". He was a board member of the Mario Savio Memorial Lecture.
Professor Emeritus, Political Science
Spring, 2020
Please see his obituary at https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressdemocrat/obituary.aspx?n=don-dixon&pid=196709036
Previous Dean of (then) Natural Sciences and Provost
From Rick Luttmann:
Many will remember Don Farish, who served in the 1980s as Dean of Natural Sciences (as the School was then known) and in the 1990s as Provost. We have received news of his death last July at age 75.
Died in 2020, lived in Santa Rosa.
April 23, 2015 (ERFA notified on September 9, 2015)
We were informed today that Emeritus Professor of Communication Studies Carl Jensen passed away last April. He began teaching in SSU’s Department of Sociology in 1973 and given his background in public relations and advertising, created the Department of Communications.
June 8, 2015 (Updated on September 16, 2015)
She specialized in developmental psychology and worked in the Department of Counseling. Professor Saarni's research focused on children¹s emotional development. She was an internationally recognized scholar and has enjoyed speaking engagements both nationally and internationally. She began teaching at SSU in 1972 and retired in 2014.
December 8, 2016
Colleagues:
I'm sorry to report that Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Dr Charles Phillips died yesterday (8 December 16) at the age of 92. He is survived by his wife Jeanette and their son. He was born in 1924 in the South Bay. He served in World War II and was wounded in Alsace-Lorraine, for which he received a Purple Heart.