Obituary: Stanley Idzerda helped push College of St. Benedict forward

Stanley Idzerda sang tunes unabashedly as he walked across campus at the College of St. Benedict, where he served as the school's first and only male president.

He originally turned down the offer to head the all-women's college in St. Joseph, Minn., but after attending mass at the nearby St. Benedictine's Monastery he changed his mind. During his tenure from 1968 to 1974, enrollment at the liberal arts school doubled, new academic programs were added and the school began offering summer classes and study abroad programs. Idzerda returned to teach history at St. Benedict from 1979 to 1990.

"Dr. Idzerda's leadership demonstrated innovation, forward thinking and risk-taking. He also proved his deep care and commitment to our students and the liberal arts experience," said Rita Knuesel, who had Idzerda for an instructor and now is provost of St. Ben's and neighboring St. John's University. "We alumnae recall Dr. Idzerda as a joyful leader. He was connected with his students and stayed connected to them over many years."

Idzerda stopped breathing and died Aug. 6 at age 93, said his daughter Geraldine Idzerda of Yaka, Okinawa.

Idzerda grew up in the New York City borough of Brooklyn and had not given a career in academia much thought. As a teenager, he worked on a private yacht but after the owners put it in dry dock, he needed a job. That led him to the U.S. Navy because he could "get three square meals a day," said his daughter.

He survived the attack on Pearl Harbor while aboard the USS West Virginia, and used money from the GI Bill to earn bachelor's degrees in European history from the University of Notre Dame and Baldwin College. He earned master's and doctorate degrees in philosophy from Western Reserve University.

Before arriving at the College of St. Benedict, he taught at Western Michigan University and Yale University. He also was director of the Honors College at Michigan State University and dean of the college at Wesleyan University.

"Thank you, Dr. Idzerda, for all the wonderful things you brought to St. Ben's and the legacy you left for future students," Laura Lapic Swanson wrote on the college's Facebook page. "As the parents of three Bennies, our hearts are so grateful for the time and talents you shared and left for future generations."

Idzerda left St. Ben's in 1974 to serve as editor-in-chief of the Marquis de Lafayette's papers at Cornell University. He returned as a history instructor from 1979 to 1990.

He was famous for his lectures and for his dedication to the neighboring monastery, where he was an honorary member of the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict. In conjunction with its centennial this year, the college named a campus community center in his honor.

Outside of school, he was known for gardening, providing for his family and making connections with people.

"No matter what interest you had, he'd be able to engage in a conversation about that," Geraldine Idzerda said.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Sacred Heart Chapel in St. Benedict's Monastery in St. Joseph, with visitation starting at 9 a.m.