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Obituaries of ASOR Members

 

Recent Obituaries

 

Werner Erich Lemke

Published in Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on July 14, 2010. Lemke was a long-tim ASOR member and institutional representative for Colgate Rochester Crozer Theological Seminary.

Lemke died on July 5, 2010, suddenly (after driving from Rochester to visit family in the Midwest) at age 77, from an apparent heart attack. He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife and life companion, "Sandy" (m. almost 54 years), daughters Kathryn and Elizabeth, son Michael, three grandchildren, three sisters, and numerous other endeared family and friends, colleagues and students.

Born in Berlin, Germany, in 1933, Werner's distinguished career in teaching included almost 40 years at CRCDS, in addition to affiliations with North Park Theological Seminary, Harvard, Princeton, and McCormick seminaries. Always excelling in his studies, acquired a Th.D from Harvard in 1964. He was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church of America in 1959. He subsequently was involved in contributing to many religious and valued professional and scholarly publications over years of being in ministry as an educator, and churchman; zealously performing as one of the contributing editors to several commentaries, study bibles and dictionaries. He also thoroughly enjoyed both the mental stimulation and the physicality of being a team captain at an archaeological excavation at Tel Gezer, in Israel.

Beyond his many life-long professional achievements, and driven by his personal resilience over personal trauma and loss (experienced in his youth during WWII) Werner was very active in local neighborhood and church organizations, such as the food pantry at New Life Presbyterian Church and Habitat for Humanity. Earlier, other endeavors included aspects of urban planning and different layers of community development and organization, as well as his impassioned involvement in the national and local civil rights efforts and other issues of social justice. He was deeply-concerned about the treatment and outcomes for veterans from our nation's wars, and their need to heal from multiple forms of wounds: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. He supported the troops in his thoughts, words, prayers, and deeds. Werner thrilled to expressing his joy, other authentic emotions and deep faith in musical form, specifically through choral singing, and attending concerts and performances of all kinds. (In later years he became quite an opera buff, as well.) A "gentle giant," Werner had a special love for babies and children, nature, animals, mountains and woods, many genres of music, and the beauty of many and varied geographical regions (as well as appreciation for our own beautiful NYS). He perceived things through a lens of faith: having appreciation, gratitude and practicing care-giving for all creation; keenly-sensing the divine presence within all living things. His personal expression reflected his heart-felt perspective on the meaning of suffering and its relation to healing and greater good. He believed in a God of purpose and intent. He was a peacemaker and arbitrator, and was able to distill complex conflict into resolution and reform. He was able to reframe and refocus those who were struggling and help others regain their vision and efficacy.

Werner truly was an an authentic servant/leader. Essentially, he lived a life style of selflessness and generosity, of service orientation and biblically-grounded discipleship, catalyzing his own faith into action-based behavior to benefit others. His life choices were an honest and straightforward manifestation of his personal integrity, deeply and scripturally-grounded faith in a God of love, compassion, justice, and understanding.

A memorial and celebration of Dr. Lemke's life will be ce lebrated on Friday, July 16, at 10:00 a.m. at New Life Presbyterian Church, 243 Rosedale Street, Rochester, NY. All are welcomed, in thanksgiving for Werner's life and witness! Published in Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on July 14, 2010 Share this obituary via e-mailEmail Share this obituary on FacebookFacebook Bookmark this obituaryBookmark ShareShare PrintPrint

Doug Edwards

Obituary quoted from The News Tribune, Tacoma, Washington, November 25th, 2008 12:05 AM

Driven UPS professor lived boldly, inspired many. The best word to describe Doug Edwards is determined. The University of Puget Sound professor was so determined that when
his doctors said he had one year to live because of bone cancer, he stole eight. Whenever the doctors told him about treatment plans, they asked the globe-trotting professor, "How does that fit with your schedule?"

The determination was there even when he was a kid, spending hours learning to juggle because he was told it would make him a better
basketball player.

Edwards, a religion professor at UPS for 21 years, died Saturday evening. He was 58. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn, and a brother, a sister, two daughters and a son. Lynn said Monday she was overwhelmed by how many lives Edwards touched. Students, colleagues and friends have been sharing stories of
the professor, who traveled the world for archaeological digs and came home to sing with the Puget Sound Revels.

There was only one way to describe Edwards, Lynn said: "Sheer determination, and his passion. People saw this all the way through
the cancer." People saw it when, even during harsh treatment, he led archaeological
digs in Israel – in person when he could make the trip, and by teleconference when he couldn't. People saw it when, though weak from
chemotherapy, he still wanted to sing with the Revels at the Tall Ships festival this year.

"Are you OK?" other singers would ask.

"I'll be fine once I get my costume on," he replied.

This summer, Edwards became the first person to lead an archaeological dig via teleconference when he directed a group of students, including his daughter, at a dig at Khirbet Cana. Cana, northwest of Nazareth, is the site of the biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine. The group was digging for clues to see how first-century villages evolved.

In 2006, Edwards was leading a dig and excavation of an ancient synagogue near Cana when Hezbollah launched missiles at nearby Israeli communities. "It is definitely a unique experience," he said at the time.

Edwards was born in the tiny town of Hardy, Neb. He studied at the University of Nebraska and at Boston University, where he met Lynn,
before taking a job at UPS in 1987. He loved it here, Lynn said. If you can't live in New England, the Pacific Northwest is just as good, he'd say.

During his years at UPS, Edwards inspired students and coworkers, many of whom are trying to make it back for today's memorial service or calling in their stories if they can't. In 1992, Dave Wright walked into Edwards' class at 8 a.m. on a Monday morning. It was the first class of his freshman year. After taking it,
Wright switched to have Edwards as his adviser, and changed his major and the direction of his life.

"Without Doug, and his role both professionally and personally, I wouldn't be the professional I am today," said Wright, now the UPS chaplain.

Wright will lead the 2 p.m. service today at Kilworth Chapel on the UPS campus. A reception at Wyatt Hall will follow the service.
Everyone is invited, but be prepared to stay awhile. There will be a lot of stories to share. "He just loved what he did, he pushed and pushed," Lynn said. "That defined him. He had a big life."

Barry Goldstein, a UPS geology professor, had worked with Edwards since 1987, and went on trips with him to Israel. Throughout his work,
Edwards always brought people together. And even though Edwards died young, he lived more than many others, friends said.

"As far as I'm concerned," Goldstein said, "he lived 150 years."

 

Richard Jonas Scheuer

Remembrance by Past ASOR President Eric M. Meyers (posted December 2, 2008):

Richard Jonas Scheuer, z”l
July 14, 1907 – November 9, 2008

Dick Scheuer was one of ASOR’s holy trinity, along with our Board chair, P.E. MacAllister, and the late Charles Harris, past ASOR treasurer and longtime CAARI President. Dick was also an indefatigable supporter of the Albright Institute in Jerusalem within the ASOR family. As the 2007 recipient of the Richard J. Scheuer ASOR Medal one of the first things I did after receiving the award was to call Dick at home and he was absolutely thrilled with my selection. We reminisced about our long association and friendship and we talked about the future: how the archaeology of the region of the Middle East would take shape over the next years and how it might affect the peace process to which we were deeply committed. Dick Scheuer was a man of great insight and foresight; he knew what we did in Jerusalem and in the region was of great moment and would influence the politics of the region for good or for bad for a very long time.

My wife Carol and I got to know Dick when we were fellows at the HUC in Jerusalem in 1964-65 when we were enrolled at the College and participated in the 1964 seminar on biblical archaeology. Our guide in the Negev was Nelson Glueck, and Frank Cross was outgoing Director of the school and our teacher in the summer seminar at HUC, later to be known as the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology. Frank Cross was succeeded in the fall of 1964 by G. Ernest Wright. It was in that fall that the excavations of ancient Gezer began and Carol and I were part of the original staff on the team till 1969. During these years we came to love the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and got to know Dick and Nelson as the College embarked on a unique expansion of its Israel program. One of the things I remember most vividly from this time is the vision and commitment of Dick and Nelson to making a Jerusalem experience and the Jerusalem school a requirement and major part of the Reform Jewish experience, a requirement that went into effect in 1970. The new campus on 13 King David Street is in great measure the result of Dick’s efforts and he was responsible for the hiring of the famed Israeli architect, Moshe Safdie, to draw plans for the expansion of the campus that was completed in 1986 and was featured in the Venice Biennale of 1991. Dick’s efforts in behalf of HUC and the city of Jerusalem were recognized in Israel when he was awarded the highest honor of the city: “Yakir of Jerusalem,” Beloved and Honorary Fellow of Jerusalem, an honor bestowed on only a select few. Dick was chair of the HUC Board of Governors from 1983-1990 but served on its Board from 1962.

Dick was also a lover of his alma mater, Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1939 in Classics. In recent years he was instrumental in the campaign to build a new Hillel house at Harvard. Thirty years after his graduation from the College he graduated from New York University with an MA in Near Eastern History and Archaeology, which led him to his profound love and commitment to the archeology of the land of Israel and of the greater Middle East. His support of ASOR and ASOR publications and the Gezer publications led the director of the Albright Institute, Sy Gitin, to comment: “He believed that if it wasn’t published, it was as if it was never excavated.” Dick Scheuer knew what it meant to be involved in archaeology and he challenged all of us to respond to its demands with all due efforts.

Dick also loved Jewish art and served as chairman of the Board of the Jewish Museum in New York City from 1971-79 during which time I taught several courses there commuting from North Carolina. Dick’s involvement with Jewish museums led him to help support the creation of the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles and to establish the Art Committee for HUC-JIR New York’s campus, a committee on which he served until his death. In 1979 he helped launch the organization of American Jewish Museums. Dick was also an avid sailor and with his wife Joan raced a 210 class sailboat on Long Island Sound.

These details are but a snippet of the long and productive life of one of ASOR’s and AIAR’s angels, and one of the giants of those who have supported and participated in the expansion, growth, and maturation of biblical archeology. Richard Jonas Scheuer was a man of rare talent and energy and saw in the day-to-day workings of ASOR and AIAR the workings of something very special that could translate into a new vision of the Middle East as we know it. Dick was up to the minute about every detail of the Middle East peace process and was as downcast as the next person when terrorism struck. But as a student of ancient Near Eastern history and culture he knew full well that better times would come and that an all-inclusive organization such as ASOR was best poised to help us realize a Middle East in which all parties could participate. While he did not live to see this happen, he at least saw in his mind’s eye the hope all of us in ASOR share: that one day not in the too distant future, all peoples of the region would search into their past to rediscover their present and their future, just as HUC had done when it set down its roots in Jerusalem.

We in ASOR will miss Dick Scheuer for his vision, for his generosity of spirit, for his undying support for the Albright, and for all the nitty gritty things that ASOR has to do in order to fulfill Dick’s dream that each dig in order to be a successful one must be one that publishes its results in a readable and timely way.

Dick was truly an angel, and because of that status he is still watching over us today and encouraging us to get over the current crisis and move ahead by making the past a road-sign to a better future. Dick: we miss you sorely and will never forget you. May you rest in peace and watch over us as we seek to do what you have always urged us to do.
Eric M. Meyers

 

Obituary from New York Times, Sunday November 9, 2008 (see above for a remembrance by Eric Meyers): Richard Jonas Scheuer, age 91, died November 7, 2008. Born July 14, 1917 in Long Lake, New York, he was a real estate and construction executive, who devoted much of his time to philanthropic work. He leaves his wife, Joan, his sons Daniel and Jonathan (Debra), his daughter Marian Sofaer (Abraham), and eleven grandchildren, Michael, Helen, Joseph, Aaron, Raphael, Benjamin, Adam, Simon, Matthew, Alexander and Hannah. His son, Richard Scheuer Jr. (Sylvia) died in 1996. Dick graduated from the Fieldston School and Harvard University, class of 1939, where he majored in classics. He later earned an M.A. at NYU in ancient history. During WWII, he enlisted and served as an officer in the Army Signal Corps in Italy. He served as Board Chair of the Jewish Museum, New York, helping to reinvigorate that institution. He was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hebrew Union College. With Moshe Safdie as architect, he took a lead role in building the expansion, of HUC's Jerusalem campus on King David Street, Jerusalem. The campus was featured in the Venice Biennale of 1991 as one of the architectural achievements of the period. He was active in archaeology for four decades, serving on the boards of the American Schools of Oriental Research and the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research. He funded important digs and archaeological publications. Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek awarded him the highest tribute, Yakir Yerushalayim, for his many services to that city. As a longtime resident of Larchmont, New York, he helped build the local Democratic Party and served as Village Trustee. With Joan, he raced a 210 class sailboat on Long Island Sound, and spent many summers sailing the New England coast with family and friends. Funeral at Larchmont Temple, Monday, November 10, 2008 at noon.

Avraham Biran

Forthcoming by David Ilan

Victor Gold

The Rev. Dr. Victor Roland Gold died Wednesday September 17, 2008 in Oakland, CA. Born in 1924, in Garden City, Kansas, Victor Gold grew up in a Texas parsonage, born into a family of Lutheran pastors. He graduated from Wartburg College in 1945, and attended Wartburg Theological Seminary where he graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1946. After his ordination, his first calls were to serve parishes in Freer and Alice, Texas. After seminary he said he had wanted to do advanced studies in the New Testament; however, William F. Albright convinced Gold to study Hebrew Bible and Archaeology with him at Johns Hopkins University from where he earned his doctoral degree in 1951. During his time of graduate study at Johns Hopkins, he served as a pastor in the Maryland Synod from 1949-1952, and as Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Hamma Divinity School. In 1956, Dr. Gold was called to be Professor of Old Testament at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, where he served for more than 50 years. Within a few years of arriving in Berkeley, Gold became an active participant with the committee which established the Graduate Theological Union. He retired from PLTS in 2004, but continued to teach courses part-time each semester until this fall. Victor Gold was a faithful member and active participant in the programs of the American Schools of Oriental Research since joining the organization in the late 1940’s. Many prominent excavations were privileged with Gold’s presence and expertise including Lachish and Beer Sheva, where Victor was a field supervisor in 1969. In addition to his various field work experiences, Victor spent much time at the Albright Institute, including his year as the Annual Professor, 1986-1987. His scholarly writings include the annotations to Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel for the first few editions of the Oxford Annotated Bible and more than two hundred entries in the Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. He also chaired the Committee of the National Council of Churches that produced the Inclusive Language Lectionary and served as an editor and contributor to the New Testament and Psalms: an Inclusive Version. But his most obvious calling was his service as an educator. His respectful and empowering approach to education created an air of enthusiasm in his classes. Thousands of students of Bible, archaeology and ministry were blessed with his gentleness and inspired by his unfettered pursuit of biblical literacy and social justice. Even with his encyclopedic knowledge from more than a half-century of teaching he would begin his courses saying, “I’m still doing this because I am still learning new ways of understanding the Bible – from you, my students.” May, his ambitions persist through all of us lucky enough to have experienced his calling. Victor is survived by his wife, the Rev. Frances Noreen Meginness; a son, Victor Jr, and his wife, Christine; a daughter, Joanne; two step-children, Shannon and Timothy and his wife Michelle; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A son Stephan died in 1987. (by Tim Fries)