Alumni News
Dr. Edwin S. Stefan (STH ’60)
Dr. Edwin S. Stefan went home to be with the Lord on December 11, 2020, at The Heritage in Findlay, OH.
He was born to the late Edwin and Loraine (Holzinger) Stefan on November 18, 1933. On August 30, 1959, he married Katheryn J. (Rouse) who survives him. He has three daughters Cynthia L. Sharp, Deborah A. (Fernando) Escamilla and Jennifer S. Stefan. He has four living grandchildren: Evan Escamilla Flury (Roger Flury), Sierra Sharp, Sasha Escamilla and Andrew Sharp. A grandson, Marshall Escamilla preceded him in death. He will be missed by family, friends and former student Tena (Jim) Kirk. He had three beloved dogs in his life: Teddy Bear, Skipper and Spenser.
Education and learning were lifelong pursuits. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Carroll College in Waukesha, WI, Masters of Divinity from Garrett Theological Seminary at Northwestern in Evanston, IL, STM from Boston University, a Doctorate of Religion from Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, CA. He also took a Sabbatical at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He served as a minister in MI, MA, WI, CA and OH.
In 1969 Ed began his teaching career at Findlay College/The University of Findlay, retiring in 1995 as Professor Emeritus of Psychology. He enjoyed challenging students through innovative courses. He developed as well as directed an internship program known as CUE (Community Urban Experiences) for the Psychology Department which is still in existence today.
His interests included travel, hiking, backpacking and ballroom dancing. Ed traveled the world and never knew a stranger. He loved and accepted people regardless of race, religion or nationality. Even struggling with Alzheimer's at the Legacy, he found a way to brighten other people's day and bring a smile to their face.
He was also inspired to compose music, songs of faith and a Polka. His family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at the Legacy and the Heritage. We appreciate more than we can express the great care of Dr. Jacobus as well as all of the Hospice team. We are forever grateful to Dr. Sharon Cole, Dr. Haq and the staff of Orion Cancer Care and Dr. Lutz for helping Ed have many extra years with us.
Due to COVID-19 a private service is being held at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church on December 14, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. The service will be livestreamed and available for viewing on the church's website www.saumcfindlay.org or their Facebook page. A celebration of life is planned for a later date. Burial will be at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Milwaukee, WI. Arrangements have been entrusted to Coldren-Crates Funeral Home.
Online condolences can be sent by visiting coldrencrates.com. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Edwin S. Stefan Scholarship Endowment Fund in care of University of Findlay. 1000 N. Main St. or Cancer Patient Services, 1800 N. Blanchard St.
This obituary was originally posted here, by The Courier.
Reverend W. Robert Fowler (STH ’58, GRS ’68)
Rev. W. Robert "Bob" Fowler of Framingham passed peacefully at home on December 9, 2020.
He was born in Methuen, MA on January 19, 1932, the son of James William and Mary Ellen (McFadden) Fowler. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Ruth May (Allen) Fowler of Framingham. Devoted father of Mark A. Fowler and his wife Susan of Madison, WI and Martha J. Puchulu and her husband Michel of Framingham. Cherished grandfather of Benjamin, Carmen, Gabriel and Moriah (1990-2010).
Bob has been a resident of Framingham for the past 15 years. He graduated from Lawrence High School with the class of 1949 and earned his BA in English Literature from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN. In preparation for a career in ministry, he earned a Master of Divinity at Boston University School of Theology. He was ordained a Deacon in the Methodist Church in 1955, the same year he and Ruth were married. He was ordained an Elder in the New England Southern Conference of The Methodist Church in 1958, the same day he received his Master of Divinity.
Bob served churches in Fall River, MA; Brockton, MA; Pioneer, OH; Lima, OH; Springfield, OH; Westerly, RI; Lynn, MA; Winthrop, MA; Salem, MA; Mystic, CT; Newton, IA and Glidden, IA. For 5 years between his Westerly appointment and his Lynn appointment, Bob took a sabbatical to get his Master of Arts in History at Boston University and worked on his PhD in History at American University in Washington, D.C. During those 5 years he taught at Framingham State College and American University.
Bob retired from the ministry in 1994 and opened a used bookstore, Bob's Books, in Des Moines, IA that he and Ruth operated for 8 years before moving back east to New Hampshire. Bob's Books opened in Portsmouth, NH and operated for 13 years. Bob and Ruth then fully retired and moved to Framingham to be closer to family. Bob was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather to his family.
Due to the social restraints of the Covid pandemic, plans for a reception and committal will be at a future date. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Norton Funeral Home, 53 Beech St. (Corner of Union Ave.), FRAMINGHAM. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Assoc. Massachusetts Chapter, 72 East Concord Street, Room C3, Boston, MA 02118 or the American Diabetes Association , 260 Cochituate Rd. #200, Framingham, MA 01701. To leave a message of condolence and sign the online guestbook, please visit www.nortonfuneralhome.com Norton Funeral Home Framingham, MA
This obituary was originally posted here, by Legacy.com.
BUSTH Dean Statement on January 6 US Capitol Attack
Dear School of Theology Community,
Even as I await the public announcement of my deanship (which officially began this month), I want to uphold the important role the school has played in speaking out concerning major events. And there was a major event this past Wednesday with the storming of our nation’s capitol by rioters protesting the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
In a time where understandings and practices of American democracy are being challenged, it is crucial more than ever to defend and preserve the peaceful, democratic processes of this nation. I have four things I want to state.
First, I condemn the violent occupation of the US Capitol Building as inconsistent with the principles of American democracy.
Second, I grieve for the death of the police officer and all deaths related to the riots. I extend my gratitude for Officer Sicknick’s service and offer my sympathy and prayers to the families in grief.
Third, I grieve the notable discrepancies between responses to this riot (comprised predominantly of white Americans) and the more heavy-handed responses to Black Lives Matter protests over this past summer. There are a number of injustices that happened on January 6, and we should not lose sight of the several layers of injustices at play.
Lastly, I lament the increasing chasms of our nation, and I grieve the fact that they are too often mirrored in churches and faith communities today. I exhort persons of faith, churches, and faith communities to take up the hard, beautiful, and fragile call to pursue justice with peace, seek righteousness with mercy, to love one’s enemies and uphold and affirm the humanity of every human being. Communities and persons of faith are called to be people of compassion, even as they seek to speak for truth and justice. Such compassion and humility deeply wedded to conviction and action are needed even more so when disagreements threaten to turn ugly and violent. In the face of the violence on January 6 and violent actions past and future, may the church and persons and communities of faith be even more vigilant in embodying peaceful action towards the thriving of all human beings that we may dwell in peace and seek the peace and welfare of the city (Jeremiah 29:7).
May the community of STH be a community of prayer at this time. May it also continue to be a community of compassion who embodies peaceful witness and action for justice and restoration.
G. Sujin Pak, Dean of the School of Theology
Boston University Responds to Events in US Capitol on Wednesday
January 7, 2021 – Boston University President Robert Brown sent a letter to BU students, faculty, and staff on Thursday, condemning the attacks in Washington, DC on Wednesday. “Yesterday’s violent occupation of our Capitol in Washington by a mob was an attack on our democracy. I condemn it, as should all Americans and people around the world,” Brown said in his statement.
The letter is publicly available on the Office of the President website.
January 8, 2021 – Boston University’s founding director of the Center for Antiracist Research, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, responded in real time to these events on Twitter. He cited law enforcement’s treatment of the attackers as compared to the treatment of the Black community by law enforcement around the country: “The same reason why the police routinely kill Black people is the same reason why the police are routinely unprepared for White domestic terrorists.”
The full story and Dr. Kendi's tweets are available in this article published this morning by BU Today.
Returning to BUSTH and Campus for Spring 2021
January 2021 – Boston University has announced that the Spring 2021 semester will follow the same precautions and testing as the Fall 2020 semester, as we prepare for the return of students to campus and classes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following websites offer resources for returning students, faculty, and staff, as the Spring 2021 semester begins.
- What Students, Faculty, and Staff Need to Know about Spring Move-In and Returning to Campus
- Back2BU: Boston University’s dedicated website info on reopening campus.
- Healthway: BU’s website dedicated to COVID-19 prevention and testing for our community. It includes the daily testing dashboard which displays all the latest results from our on-campus COVID-19 testing.
- STH student intranet: Our students can find the latest STH-related updates, including recent info directly from the deans. Students will need to enter their Kerberos name and password to access the intranet.
- STH student intranet COVID-19 page
- STH Library COVID-19 information
- BU Today: Subscribe to the daily newsletter for breaking news on campus.
Prof. Calvillo Featured in Religion News Article
The original article was published on December 31, 2020 on Religion News Service.
What to expect on the religious scene in 2021: Experts cast their sights on the year ahead
We asked scholars, faith leaders, activists and other experts to reflect on some of the issues they’ve seen on the religious landscape and what they anticipate for 2021.
Jonathan Calvillo: Latino Christian identities will continue to evolve in response to multiple impulses
In 2021, I expect to see the following trends among varying segments of Latino Christianity:
- Visible, interdenominational coalitions of young Latinos focused on social justice will continue to grow.
- Younger Latinos will continue to be drawn to Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous-influenced spiritualities.
- Many Latino Christians will continue to be drawn to sources of perceived “secret knowledge” encapsulated in conspiracy theories and will blend these beliefs with their theologies.
- Increased online engagement by churches will continue to foster virtual communities of pan-ethnic Latino affinities.
- Spiritual entrepreneurs with a strong digital presence will continue to exercise influence transnationally via mainstream social media platforms as well as through their own websites.
- Smaller, working-class churches who have experienced notable losses due to the pandemic will respond mournfully and creatively.
Rev. Voigt Day Archer (STH ’60)
The Reverend Voigt Day Archer passed away on December 1, 2020.
He was predeceased by his father Voigt Day Archer Sr., his mother Erma Bahler Archer, and his sister Patricia Trescott (Gene). He is survived by his wife of 65 years Beverly Nason Archer, children Stephen Day Archer and Amy Elizabeth Caccia (Randall), and grandchildren Jessica Guy (Kevin), Amanda Archer, Emma Caccia, and Anna Caccia. Voigt was born in Rochester, NY in 1933.
He graduated from East Rochester High School in 1951 and Syracuse University in 1955. He attended Boston University School of Theology where he received his Master of Divinity. He was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1959 and began his ministry in Clockville, NY. Other pastorates included Ithaca (State St.), Homer, Skaneateles, Elmira (Centenary), Sodus, and Syracuse (Bellevue Heights). He retired from full time ministry in 1999 but was called back into service several times as an interim pastor. His final ministry was as associate pastor at Baldwinsville First UMC from 2004 - 2014.
In addition to a local parish, Voigt held several Central NY Conference positions including chairman of the Board of Pensions and Coordinator of the Ordination Service. For over 30 years he served alongside Rev. Warren Covell as co-director of older elementary camps at Casowasco. Voigt remained concerned about social justice throughout his life. He felt fortunate to have participated in the 1963 March on Washington as well as the 1970 Churchman's tour of Eastern Europe and the USSR during communist rule. The principle Voigt lived by was, "Goodness is something so simple - always to live for others, never to seek one's own advantage." [Dag Hammarskjold]
Those who knew him remember his humility, wisdom, and kindness. A service of Life Celebration will be held at a later date.
Gifts in memory may be made to Casowasco c/o Upper NY Conference of the United Methodist Church, Baldwinsville First UMC or any other church Voigt served.
Please sign the guestbook at syracuse.com/obits
This obituary was originally published here, by Syracuse.com.
Happy Holidays from Dean Moore and the School of Theology
A Holiday Greeting from Dean Moore
In chaos, God moves –
With loving touch for all who suffer,
And guiding light for all who seek
love and justice and goodness.
In chaos, God created and creates,
In chaos, Jesus was born,
In chaos, we still live,
And yet God moves with a loving touch for every person,
Every creature and sea and land.
May God touch YOU in this Holy Season!
- Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore, and the School of Theology Faculty, Staff, and Students
Rev. Dorlimar Lebrón Malavé (MDiv’18) lives in New York, NY. She pastors the historic First Spanish United Methodist Church, commonly known as “The People’s Church,” where she has faithfully served for two years.
“Candle and Hands,” 2017, watercolor, gold paint, pen and ink, by Br. Blair Nuyda, A.A. Br. Blair is a Doctor of Ministry Candidate.
A Letter of Appreciation from Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore to the BUSTH Community
Dear Beloved Community,
You will soon have a new Dean and she will bring extraordinary gifts to the BU School of Theology. My last words are a welcome to her and a testimony to the person she is. Since the Provost will make the public announcement, I will limit myself to saying that the new Dean is a person of wisdom and integrity, who will be a visionary, guide, collegial partner, and supporter of all of you. She has been working with many STH leaders in the past month, and she will be eager to meet all of you as her early weeks unfold in January and thereafter.
My other last word is thanks! Thanks, STH community, for the gorgeous quilt you gave me last week, created from the beauty of cloth, color, and community. I was overwhelmed. Now, as you complete papers, exams, and grading, I wish you very well, and I close my “dean days” by remembering the awesomeness of YOU.
I remember hundreds of visits with STH students,
Filled with your insistent passion to build a more just and caring community,
Overflowing with ideas to create a Green Seminary, a completely inclusive school, …,
And seeking to become a magnet and maker of justice,
Spinning dreams that would not stop, even in the year 2020,
Seeking to know and grow as scholars, leaders, and spiritual beings,
Making your voices heard and joining your minds and hands to do good.
I remember a multitude of gatherings with STH faculty,
Collaborating, deliberating, caring for students, and building community life,
Sharing elegant research and love for teaching,
Creating new curricula, degree programs, tracks, certificates, and courses,
Building up centers and creating new programs and communities of learning,
Seeking to serve the good of all people and the planet,
And generating knowledge that evokes wonder and eternal seeking.
I remember gatherings with administrators and staff,
Who, from the beginning, were ready to fly with creative ideas,
Imagining how to respond to urgent needs and crying hopes,
Building zesty communities and renovating systems from bottom to top,
Continually dreaming big dreams and accomplishing great things!
I remember the alums and former faculty who studied and taught here,
Who tell funny and sobering tales that changed their lives,
Who carry the School of the Prophets in their bones,
Planting seeds that still grow in STH and communities across the world,
I remember our shared dreams for a more diverse community
Where we could encounter and appreciate deep differences in the human family,
Engaging those differences with honesty, openness, and respect,
Honoring the dignity of each and all as we learn together,
Seeking to transform harm into justice and grace within STH and far beyond.
We have traveled many miles and accomplished much.
I celebrate who we have been and what we have done together;
I give thanks for all that lies ahead in your ongoing journeys
As you breathe in Life and travel with spirit
Toward the possibilities of goodness that beckon!
May you journey forward with joy!
I will be cheering you all the way!
With love and appreciation beyond words,
Mary Elizabeth (she/her/hers)
Dean Moore Featured in BU Today’s “Close Up” for Last Lecture
At 7pm on Thursday, December 10, BU School of Theology (STH) Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore delivered her final lecture as dean of the School. Titled “Dignity: Spiritual Center in Social Chaos,” the lecture was well-attended by members of the greater STH community: current and former staff, faculty, students, alums, and Dean’s Advisory Board members were all in attendance. The event was featured on the Boston University events calendar, and the above photograph, taken by Associate Director of Alumni/ae and Donor Relations, Andrew Kimble, was featured today in the BU Today “Close Up” section of their daily e-newsletter.