Spring 2020
Dear Members of the Class of 1977,
Like colleges all over the country (and the world), Luther College has just wrapped up a spring semester like no other. Our students participated in remote learning, connecting with their professors and classmates online and on Sunday, May 24, we celebrated the Class of 2020 with a
virtual commencement
. It certainly wasn't the spring semester we imagined, but the Luther community responded with resiliency and creativity.
Many of us are making adjustments, sometimes daily or even hourly, to these uncertain times but we wanted to be sure to connect with you and to send you Steve's letter. We think you'll enjoy reading what she has written to your class.
We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy during these times. For updated information about Luther's response to the pandemic, visit
luther.edu.
Many thanks for your steadfast love and support.
Mariah Bringer Smith ‘95
Director of Development, Current Gifts
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Dear Fellow Classmate,
My spring and summer plans looked a lot different in January than they do now. Marcia and I live just north of Philadelphia in one of Pennsylvania’s more populated counties. We are staying home as part of the national effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Doing so remains important in the strategy to keep our hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. Unless you have been deemed an essential worker, chances are you are staying close to home too, particularly if you live in or close to any one of the many viral hotspots in the world.
Out of my window I see a steady stream of neighbors walking to get fresh air, exercise, or maybe they just need to escape the boredom of being home all day. It’s great to see so many people act responsibly by maintaining physical distances. It is not great, however, to know that we can’t have in-person visits with friends and family. So, we adapt. We now have Zoom happy hours and coffee hours, virtual choirs, FaceTime calls, and of course, take-out. In a few weeks Marcia and I will virtually attend the wedding of a great-niece, streamed live from her family farm. That is definitely a first for me. It’s not the same as being there, but we’re thankful for the technology that enables us to participate. I have to say, though, I am not bored by the current circumstances. It has been a great opportunity to focus on projects that I have been delaying for years – our yard and garden have never looked so good!
COVID-19’s impact on Luther has been just as dramatic as on the rest of society. President Jenifer K. Ward, her cabinet, faculty, staff, the Emergency Response Team, and the Board of Regents, have been working diligently to address the situation and to make a number of challenging decisions. Consequences of those decisions affect not only the college, but also the Decorah area. My hat is off to everyone involved for their dedication in navigating the situation and providing clear
communication
.
The college transitioned to online courses on March 30, immediately following spring break. Students completed their Spring 2020 semester online. Not too surprising, Commencement this year was a virtual
event
. It was streamed 10 a.m. (CDT) on Sunday, May 24. A recent
letter
from the Alumni Association noted some of the fabulous ways Luther’s students, faculty, and staff have risen to the challenge. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to read their communique and explore some of the embedded links to music and further reading.
In a May 14 press release, President Ward announced a high-level plan for the 2020-21 academic year. On-campus instruction is the aspirational goal. Under the plan, the academic calendar is revised from the familiar 4-1-4 format to a 1-2-2-4-1 format in order to provide flexibility. No one knows for sure what course the pandemic will take between now and the fall. The built-in flexibility provides options for more online learning if the situation warrants. Currently under study are adjustments that will be needed to accommodate physical distancing and sanitary practices. Overall, the plan is a bold one, yet responsible. In the words of President Ward, “Luther College is a people bound together by a mission … we step confidently and courageously into the future.”
I continue to be grateful to Luther College faculty and staff for the service they provide educating and guiding the generations that follow us. Please remember to support the college as your means allow.
I hope you and your loved ones are well and remain so through this defining moment in our history.
Steve Pitzenberger
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Steve Pitzenberger
1977 Class Agent
901 Perkiomen Avenue
Lansdale, PA 19446
215-313-4891
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CLASS NOTES
Beth (Erickson) Getman
retired from teaching general music at the Milwaukee Public schools. She is now a violin teacher at the Greendale Conservatory of Music and an active performer for the Whitewater String Quartet.
Brian Rude
is vice president of government and community relations for Dairyland Power Cooperative in La Crosse, Wis., He was recently awarded the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award. Rude was cited for his years with the Trane Company, service in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as Senate President, and for his current role with Dairyland. In their words, “Brian has been a dignified voice for Western Wisconsin through his Senate years and as a voice for business through his work at Dairyland. A leader is someone people want to follow. Brian is the role model…”
David Stanley
of Decorah retired as CEO at Bear Creek Archeology.
MARRIAGES
SHELLEY KING and JAMES OSTGARD '75, Sept. 7, 2019
OBITUARY
Vicki L. (Weber) Kennedy
of Plymouth, Minn., died Feb. 3, 2020, age 64.
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