Dr. Walther Barnard: Geosciences Professor

The SUNY Fredonia campus received a great loss to start the new year with the sudden passing on January 1 of Dr. Walther M. Barnard, Professor of Geosciences and former chair of the department.

Dr. Barnard joined the faculty at Fredonia in 1964.  As the longest serving active faculty member on campus, Dr. Barnard served as the official commencement "Mace Bearer" since 2001, a distinction he held with great pride, respect and humility.  He was recently honored for 45 years of teaching and service to the campus at a special ceremony in the spring of 2009.

The family has requested that memorials in his name be made to the Walther M. Barnard Scholarship Fund, c/o Fredonia College Foundation, 272 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14063. Make a gift online>>

To honor  his memory, the campus will lower its flags to half staff on the first day of classes, Monday, January 25.

In photo at right: Dr. Barnard leads the faculty processional into Commencement 2009, flanked by State Senator Catharine Young and Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner.