Dick Dustin remembered for big heart, caring nature  

E. Richard “Dick” Dustin (MA ‘62), professor emeritus of counseling, rehabilitation, and student development, died January 16 at 81 years old.

An Iowa native, Dustin is remembered for having a big heart, a positive outlook, and a great sense of humor.

“Dick served as department head (Counseling, Rehabilitation, & Student Development) when several women faculty were getting hired into the department. He was a caring mentor — very affirming and encouraging — in a time when we were pretty isolated,” says Debora Liddell, professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs. “As I got to know him better, I realized how deeply his caring nature went. He definitely led with his big heart.” 

“Dick was a lead instructor in our workshops for new community college teachers,” says Chet Rzonca, associate professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs. “He asked us to be understanding or at the least tolerant of students whose views varied from ours. Dick practiced what he preached, which made him an effective teacher and university representative.”

After teaching at the University of Missouri - St. Louis for four years, Dustin came home to Iowa in 1972 to teach in the UI College of Education. He retired in 1999 and then spent his time volunteering and with family.

Dustin met his wife of 60 years, Pat, in high school and followed her to Grinnell College. The pair had two children, Rob and Susan; and four grandchildren.

“He’s always loved Iowa athletics,” says Pat. “But it was the people more than anything that he loved – the students were eager and fun. He enjoyed his colleagues, too.”

Read more of the College of Education's 2018 alumni Magazine.

Remembering faculty and alumni 

Ada Constance Snyder (BA ‘20)

Helene Blattner  (BA ‘20/MA ‘22/PHD ’48)

Gladys G. Wilson (BA ‘21)

M. Gertrude McDermott( BA ‘24/MA ‘27)

Anne S. Bradbury (BA ’26)

Eleanor E. Howell (BA ’37)

Reed M. Holmes (BA ’39)

Velma S. King (MA ’39)

Mary Hope Farrell (MA ’41)

Norma L. Hodges (BA ‘47/SE ‘47/MA ‘65/MFA ’70)

Glenn E. Thomas (BA ‘47/MA ’64)

Charlotte Enger Jones (BA ‘47 MA ’65)

Katherine Raper (BS ‘47/ MA ’51)

Anne L. Larson (BA ‘48/MA ’67)

Woodrow I. Nelson (MA ’48)

Lavonne J. Morse (BA ’49)

Geraldine B. Toher (MA ’49)

Robert F. Leland (MA ’49)

Betty J. Wallis (BA ’50)

William C. Bleeker (BA ‘50/ MA ’60)

Miss Rosa A. Zelaya (MA ’50)

Marjorie M. Cantor (MA ‘50/ PHD ’66)

Mr. George F. Neuzil (MA ’51)

Mr. Eugene H. Opperman (MA ’51)

Jo Scannell Estate (BA ’52)

Anton Toft (MA ’52)

Lou Ella M. Saam (BA ’53)

Arnold E. Cook (MA ’53)

Allen Myers (MA ‘53/PHD ’54)

Jerry W. Clark (BSPE ‘54/MA ’56)

Carl G. Paetz, Jr. (MA ’54)

Roland C. Gutknecht (MA ’54)

Walter R. Abendroth (BA ‘55/MA’57)

Helen S. Watts (MA ’55)

Fred W. Aspedon (MA ‘55/EDS ’72)

Georgina S. Caslavka (BA ’56)

Sandra L. Bowman (BA ’57)

Sally E. Neslund (BA ’57)

Ruth E. Smith (BA ’57)

Terry D. Powell (BA ‘57/ MA ’80)

John M. Etzel (BSC ‘57/ SE ’57)

Robert E. O'Connor (MA ’57)

Charles J. Stark (MA ’57)

Eugene C. Whiteman (MA ‘57/ PHD ’71)

Norma L. Standard (BA ’58)

Gerald E. Badger (BA ‘58/ MA ’63)

Duane E. Blesz (MA ’58)

Loren D. Ratekin (MA ’58)

Richard A. Lahr (MA ’58)

Lamore J. Carter (PHD ’58)

Claudia J. Horick (BA ’59)

Sandra K. Rieck (BA ’59)

Barbara K. Ordiway (BA ’59)

Bruce R. Amble (BA ‘59/MA ‘63/PHD ’63)

Constance E. Ottman Riggs (MA ’59)

Merlin E. Ritchey (MA ’59)

John J. Cody (MA ’59)

Kenneth A. Otting (MA ‘59/PHD ’64)

Ila K. Johnson (BA ’60)

Richard D. Larson (MA ’60)

Richard K. Downs (MA ’60)

Donald J. Bean (MA ’60)

Norman W. Pogemiller (MA ’60)

Herbert E. Birbeck (PHD ’60)

Nancy S. Fawcett (BA ’61)

Judith A. Gorman (BA ’61)

William J. Lukan (BA ‘61/MA ’62)

Jack R. Anderson (MA ’61)

Jeanne E. Leland (MA ’61)

Larry D. Zenor (MA ‘61/EDS ’70)

Anne P. Hetrick (BA ’62)

Vincent L. Foubert (BBA ‘62/MA ’63)

Lars R. Garton (MA ’62)

Virginia K. Williams (MA ’62)

Anabel P. Newman (MA ’62)

Darold E. Albright (MA ‘62/PHD ’70)

Donald L. Schilson (PHD ’62)

Susan M. Loefgren (BA ’63)

Jerron J. Adams (BA ‘63/BA ’63)

James L. Nacke6 (MA ’63)

Linda J. Mack (BA ’64)

Eugene H. Holthaus (MA ’64)

 Irene C. Jenks (MA ’64)

Donald F. Jennings (MA ’64)

Grady E. Harlan (PHD ’64)

Brenda J. Fritch (BA ’65)

Jerome F. Beckman (MA ‘65/EDS ’67)

Mario C. Di Nello (PHD ’65)

Mary Ann Siebels (BA ’66)

Theresa L. Hood (MA’ 66)

Charles J. Rosmann (MA ’66)

Robert L. Jaeger (MA ’66)

Jane E. Kosterlitzky (BA ’67)

John W. Sjoberg (BA ‘67/SE ’67)

Samuel C. Kresse (BA ‘67/SE ’67)

Dean A. Johnson (MA ’67)

Billie Parr (MA ’67)

Carol J. Leonard (BA ‘68/SE ’68)

Stephen H. Smith (BA ‘68/SE ’68)

Karen A. Josephson (BA ‘68/SE ’68)

Robert E. Farnsworth (BA ‘68/SE ‘68/MA ’79)

Donna D. Adams (MA ’68)

Jack Wiersma (PHD ’68)

Bonnie L. Langendorfer (BA’69/BA ’69)

Jeannette H. Adams (BA ‘69/BA ’69)

Carolyn M. Cleveland (BA ‘69/BA ‘69/MA ’80)

Patricia S. Leuck (BA ‘69/SE ’69)

Dorothy B. Fouts (MA ’69)

Nancy L. Dickerson (MA ’69)

Gary L. Hugeback (MA ’69)

Viola L. Reth (MA ’69)

 Richard A. Wiederanders (PHD ’69)

Thomas L. Dinges (MA ‘70/PHD ’75)

Marcy R. Urban (BA ’71)

Andrew J. Doyle (BA ‘71/SE ’71)

Stephen L. Stanford (BA ‘71/SE ’71)

Estyl K. Breazeale (BA ‘71/SE ‘71/MAT ’74)

H. Chris Korsgaard (BA ‘71/MA ’72)

Grace W. Davis (BA ‘71/MA ’73)

B. Michael Ellingson (BBA ‘71/SE ’71)

Eugene W. Sullivan (BS ‘71/ SE ’71)

Joyce S. Fant (MA ‘71/EDS ’77)

Garland E. Haselhuhn (BA ’72)

Shirley A. Pickett (BS ’72)

Roger K. Myers (BS ‘72/SE ’72)

James C. Bagley (BS ‘72/SE ’72)

Marian C. Thomas (MA ’72)

Ronald M. Schneider (MS ’72)

Larry X. Keele (PHD ’72)

Kristin M. Peterson (BS ’73)

Sandra S. Skat (BS ‘73/SE ’73)

Laura A. Schoonover Bartels (BS ‘73/SE ’73)

Richard L. Brooks (MA ’73)

 Curtis D. Hanson (MA ’73)

Richard N. Manley (PHD ’73)

Robert H. Drennan (PHD ’73)

William M. Grove (BA ‘74/MA ’77)

Janice E. Figures (MA ’74)

David D. Wessel (MA ’74)

Kay S. Jordan (MA ’74)

George I. Wennerberg (BA ’75/MA ’76)

Mickey Van Doren (MA ’75)

Richard D. Lovelace (PHD ’75)

Gregg W. Marolf (BM ‘76/SE ’76)

 Beverly A. Phillips (MS ’76)

Ottlin A. Wegner (PHD ’76)

Barbara J. Cannon (MA ’77)

Diane M. Fay (BA ‘78/SE ’78)

James D. Jenkins (BM ‘80/SE ’80)

Jeanne E. Sentman (MA ’80)

Scharron A. Clayton (PHD ’80)

Berdena J. Beach (PHD ‘80/MSW ’81)

Daniel W. Cavanaugh (BS ‘81/SE ’81)

Bobbie Casko (MFA ‘81/PHD ’02)

 Phyllis J. Stumbo (PHD ’81)

Linda J. Vogel (PHD ’81)

Carmen J. Black (MA ’82)

Paul J. Beaudry (BBA ‘83/SE ’83)

Eric A. Larson (BM ‘83/SE ’83)

Kay E. Konz (EDS ’83)

Ann L. Oglesby (MA ’83)

Sheryl Derksen-Nicklaus (BS ‘84/SE ’84)

Jean L. Reese (PHD ’84)

David A. Picht (BS ‘85/SE ‘85/MA ’87)

Eileen A. Murphy (EDS ’86)

Tracy J. Swartos (BA ‘87/SE ’87)

Michael K. McLay (BA ‘87/MA ‘92/MA ’92)

 Heidi A. Whetstone (BA ‘91/SE ’91)

John R. McLure (BS ’92)

Elizabeth L. Crowley (BS’ 92/IED ‘92/SE ‘92/MA ’97)

Jeanne Auen (MA ‘92/MA ’92)

John M. Secl (MS ’93)

Anne M. Healy (PHD ’95)

Sharon M. Roknich (BA ‘96/IED ‘12/MA ’12)

Barbara E. Rankin (PHD ’99)

Antony R. White (PHD ’07)