In Memoriam
Pansye Smith Atkinson M’77, who died Feb. 16, 2022, launched minority student recruitment efforts at Frostburg State in 1969 with her husband, William. She served the University for the next 36 years, starting as the coordinator of the Integration Office, later becoming the first director of the Office of Minority Affairs. In 1986, she transitioned to Human Resources, heading the Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Office until her retirement in 2005. The diverse and dynamic student body that Frostburg has now is an important part of her legacy. Before coming to Frostburg, she taught music in Baltimore City Public Schools, and studied at Peabody Conservatory of Music and Towson State University. Throughout her career she continued her interests and activities in the arts, often organizing and presenting dramatic and musical programs at FSU. She authored numerous articles and books, including Brown vs. Topeka: Desegregation and Miseducation: An African American’s View, published in 1993. She was presented with the Allegany County NAACP Branch 7007 Lifetime Achievement Award. The Ort Library Special Collections houses the Pansye Atkinson Collection, papers and artifacts from her distinguished career. She is survived by two daughters, Dianne A. Hudson and Kimberly A. Naylor.
Dr. Jörn Bramann, who died on Jan. 31, 2022, was a professor emeritus of philosophy. He was a member of Frostburg’s faculty from 1972 to 2010. After completing studies in philosophy and literature at the University of Cologne, Germany, Bramann attended the University of Wyoming as a Fulbright Scholar and earned his doctorate at the University of Oregon. Among other distinctions, Bramann was the recipient of multiple fellowships from the National Endowment for Humanities, and he was a visiting professor of philosophy at the University of Dortmund, Germany. His teaching interests included Wittgenstein, Marxism, philosophy and art, and philosophy and poetry. In 1981, he started the literary journal Nightsun as a forum for philosophical discussions and writings. A prodigious reader and writer, Bramann authored several books, both scholarly (including Wittgenstein’s Tractatus and the Modern Arts) and autobiographical (including Walden Zero), and several plays, some of which he produced on video (including Buddhist Lovers and Other Troubles).
Dr. Dennis Gartner, who died Feb. 20, 2022, was a professor emeritus of English. A gifted educator, he taught courses in composition and American colonial and romantic literature. He served as chair of the English Department from 1985-1991 and was active in faculty governance throughout his 34-year career at FSU. He was the recipient of an NEH fellowship. While on sabbatical in spring 1998, he developed a comprehensive Literature and Composition Resources website. Gartner helped establish the first departmental teaching computer lab. His special love was teaching, but he began a love affair with theatre in high school, continuing as an actor and director in college and with the Frostburg Community Theatre. He also served on the board of the History House museum (now Gordon-Roberts House) in Cumberland. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Mary Gartner, former FSU associate provost, son Andrew Gartner, stepson Joshua Guttmacher and a granddaughter.
Dr. Kathie Shaffer ’83/M’85, who died on March 1, 2022, was a professor in the Department of Accounting. “Since joining FSU in 1987, Kathie served the Department of Accounting, the College of Business, and this institution with her signature excellence, passion and dedication,” said Dr. Sudhir Singh, dean of the College of Business. “From her early days at the institution, Kathie entered the life of the campus immersively, serving in several consequential committees at the University level, including as chair of the Faculty Senate and extending her professional and educational expertise to serve the broader community in truly durable and impactful ways.” She consulted for Booz Allen, Domino Sugar and other companies, and she extensively published academic research in regional and nationally peer-reviewed journals. Shaffer established the Guy G. Shaffer Family Presidential Merit Scholarship in Accounting at FSU. She is survived by her children, Cindy-Beth Carter and Travis Wilson.
Dr. Stephen J. Simpson, who died Feb. 21, 2022, was a longtime professor of political science, who also served as provost for 12 years and as acting dean. He was a scholar in the areas of the American presidency and the media and politics. Part of the Frostburg community as faculty and administrator since 1978, teaching was his true calling and love. Students regarded him as a valued mentor whether he was serving as their academic advisor, professor or as an advisor to student government. “He is leaving a rich legacy, generations of students impassioned about politics and understanding better the world around them, while having enjoyed the benefit of his jokes, his wit and his command for whatever classes he taught,” said his colleague Tim Magrath. As provost, Simpson was proud of the focus he placed on interdisciplinary studies and the active role he took with faculty governance. He is credited with facilitating the development of the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and taught in the program. The Stephen Simpson Political Science Scholarship was established in his honor. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Lisa Morshead, a former faculty member in the Department of Psychology.
Alumni
- 1930+
1939 Anna E. Jennings Smith Dec. 12, 2021
- 1950+
1951 John D. Millar Jan. 10, 2022
1953 William F. Birmingham Feb. 12, 2022
1954 Dr. Rebecca A. Lohr Lowe Dec. 8, 2021
1957 Mary Eileen Powers M’68 Jan. 10, 2022
- 1960+
1960 Anna M. Bishop M’68 Jan. 7, 2022
1961 John W. Hawkins March 25, 2022
1962 Ferman Helmstetter May 7,2022
1962 Howard H. Lemmert M’68 March 6, 2022
1962 Nadine L. Roberts Jan. 15, 2022
1963 Glenn L. Davis M’70 Feb. 17, 2022
1963 John H. Leasure Dec. 25, 2021
1963 Carolyn M. Sterling Suman Dec. 14, 2021
1964 Linda Woodbury Callin Dec. 22, 2021
1964 Alan G. Mease M’74 Jan. 25,2022
1965 Kathleen F. Garner Judd Feb. 5, 2021
1965 Rev. Eleanor Lee McGee Street Feb. 21, 2022
1968 Dr. Larry J. Brant July 13, 2021
1968 James B. Dryden Aug. 2, 2021
1968 Catherine L. Goldsworthy M’68 March 19, 2022
1968 Dean A. Hancox M’68 April 12, 2022
1968 Kenneth G. Howser, Jr. March 20, 2022
1969 Russell E. Lease Dec. 12, 2021
- 1970+
1971 Nancy Bonn Gibson April 2021
1971 Glenda Brook Arnold Green M’81 Feb. 23, 2022
1972 Terrence H. Nixon April 15,2022
1972 Audrey H. Wagoner Thomas Jan. 17,2022
1974 J. Michael Garner April 8, 2022
1975 Irene M. Ganzlmar Hughes M’76 Feb. 6, 2022
1975 Martin B. Skane M’75 Nov. 29, 2021
1975 Rev. Canon William J. Spaid March 20, 2022
1976 Robert B. Peterson March 3, 2022
1976 Elmer V. Redinger, Jr. M’76 Dec. 28, 2021
1977 Rollen H. Swink Sept. 6, 2020
1978 Lawrence E. Disharoon Sept. 1, 2021
1978 Martin E. Lewis Jan. 26,2022
1979 Lawrence P. McGreevy April 22, 2022
- 1980+
1982 Eileen T. Riley April 24, 2022
1982 Sister Cora Anne Signaigo M’82 March 29, 2022
1983 Gregory J. Fuhrman Oct. 11, 2021
1984 Dr. Marvin L. Jones M’84 Jan. 10, 2022
1984 Shou-Ling Smith M’84 Jan. 28, 2022
1985 Anthony Holland, Sr. June 21, 2021
1985 Michael J. Lippold Jan. 23, 2022
1988 John A. Murray M’88 Aug. 9, 2020
1989 Christina L. Barnhart April 18, 2022
1989 Carmon D. Acton Molnar Jan. 3,2022
- 1990+
1990 Lelah L. Ray Feb. 17, 2022*
1990 Eugene M. Stucky March 30, 2022*
1993 Patricia A. Massullo Kinder M’93 Aug. 7, 2020
1994 David B. Menzer July 25, 2021
1996 Danielle R. Lavin April 1, 2022
1999 David M. Cauffman M’99 March 5, 2022
- 2010+
2019 Derrick Michael Lee Nov. 5, 2021
- Friends of the University
Nancy Dawson Arnold Jan. 3, 2020
Cecil G. Bell, Jr. Nov. 25, 2020
Francine G. Brady April 27, 2022
James T. Brady Sept. 10, 2021
Hattie J. Engle Brode March 9, 2022
Anna Lee Rexroad Culler Dec. 19, 2021
Violet Turner Frith March 8, 2022
Ted J. Goebels Feb. 4, 2022
Jane Strevig Guyton Aug. 27, 2020
Jane E. Gibson Helmick March 22, 2022
Audrey Elaine Edgar Hoye Oct. 21, 2021
Helen M. Brammer Hunt Aug. 18, 2021
Katsuyuki Imamura June 29, 2021
Donald W. Jackson May 8, 2022
Sheldon Lebowitz Sept. 19, 2021
Marvin Levine June 29, 2021
Erick T. Likens March 16, 2022
Alphonzo R. Liggins Aug. 13, 2021
Alice T. Baysmore Manns Jan. 29, 2022
Grover V. Martin Nov. 9, 2021
Phillip A. Martino, Sr. Jan. 24, 2022
Joan M. Widma Meise Aug. 23, 2021
Martha F. Newman Oldham April 25, 2022
Jean Loar Plummer Jan. 25, 2022*
Miriam Douglas Sanner Feb. 2, 2022
Ada V. Schrock Dec. 30, 2020
Brian P. Shanley March 2, 2022*
Irene Kosciw Sines Oct. 15, 2021
Dr. Robert J. Stag Feb. 9, 2022
Betty J. Swinney Stallings July 14, 2021
* Former faculty or staff member