DON LILLIBRIDGE Obituary

IN MEMORIAM DON LILLIBRIDGE George Donald Lillibridge died of heart failure on December 21, 2012. Born on July 20, 1921, he was the son of Charles Bradley and Neva Claire (Soule) Lillibridge of Mitchell, South Dakota. He and later Senator, George McGovern became good friends and competitors in their high school debates. Close upon graduation from the University of South Dakota, he was called up for service in World War II. Soon after he married his college sweetheart, Florence Belson, he left for the Pacific Front as a Marine lieutenant. The lone surviving officer of his battalion in the Battle of Tarawa, he went on to receive wounds in the Battle of Saipan that troubled him throughout his life. While under treatment at a Hawaii hospital, President Franklin Roosevelt and Admiral Nimitz, by a random selection, visited his hospital room. In London, while a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he exchanged pleasantries with King George V after the victory parade of British Empire troops. Following the War, Don completed his doctorate and in 1952, left his position at New York University, Albany to join the history department at Chico State. In 1972, he was selected as the CSU Trustees' Outstanding Professor. Until his retirement in 1981, he taught American history and he was a vigorous chair of his department through contentious times. Lillibridge, a gifted writer, authored well-regarded books and essays on academic and popular subjects. He offered his poems as gifts to those he loved, but he sometimes presented hilarious renditions of them at gatherings of friends who also appreciated his martinis and manhattans. A sought-after public speaker on many subjects, he became an early opponent of the Vietnam War, which he believed, by contrast to World War II, did not meet the standard of necessity. He spoke widely against the new war in his unsuccessful campaign for Congress. In 1999, after Flo's death ended 56 years of marriage, Don married his former colleague, Michele Shover. Don and Flo's children are Michael Lillibridge, Linda Lillibridge (Craig Bishop), Jennifer Lillibridge and Catherine Lillibridge (David York). His grandchildren are Jason (Wendy) Yakich, Julie (Michael) Sawley, Rose (Chris) Conley, Marijeanne (Adam) Birchard, and Nichole (Ella) Lillibridge. Grandchildren in Florida are Jill (John) Heilman, Matthew (Lisa) Lillibridge and Tyler (Nancy) Lillibridge. He leaves 17 great-grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will take place at Our Divine Savior Church, 566 East Lassen Avenue at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013. A reception at the church willl follow.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chico Enterprise-Record from Dec. 30, 2012 to Jan. 1, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for DON LILLIBRIDGE

7 Entries

May 6, 2013

I was one of Dr. Lillibridge,s Western Civ. students at Albany State in 1950-51, and I have never forgotten him as a teacher and as a fine, humane man who helped shape my career. David A. Richards, Ph.D.

George Frei

January 8, 2013

Dear Michele and Lillibridge Family: Please accept my sincerest condolences on your loss. I knew Don slightly from ODS and when he served as Chair of the CSU History Dept when I was just a "Wet Behind The Ears" Undergrad. Here is a story that shows my gratitude to him as well as his character. It was the last day of the semester to submit undergraduate grad checks and I got behind finishing the check having been busy working and performing duties as a Civil Air Patrol Captain on a search mission. It was only about 20 mins the graduate check office was to close before I was able to see Dr. Lillibridge about signing the check. I was greatly concerned that the check would not be at the office on time and that I might not graduate with my class. When he asked what was wrong, I told him in an honest yet mature manner. He said, "You remind me of myself when I was a young student and officer. Let me make a call to the office so that you can bring it down to them." He talked to an official, told them that he would be sending me down, and asked them to remain open 10 mins more. He then said to me. "Well George and Captain Frei, now go out and make a difference in your life, the lives of others and the world." I have always done so and he knew that! Other than the inspiration that I received from Our Faith, my Family and John Kennedy's famous speech("Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country")his words were the most inspiring to me. I feel blessed and honored to have known him as well as you, Michele. Take Care, George Frei, BA-1982, MA-1992

January 5, 2013

> My sister, Judy Hubbard forwarded Don's obituary to me and I would like for his family to know I was one of the fortunate people to have him as a professor in the late 50's and early sixties. I also knocked on doors with him when he was running for Congress. His door was always open to students and many times I would visit him to discuss ideas, books, or politics. When I went on to UCLA for graduate school I never found a door open, it was only by appointment and for a specified amount of time. He really was there for us students and always engaged us and expected us to be thinking critically.
>
> My sister had Flo as a high school student and was equally focused on engaging, not "teaching", students.

January 2, 2013

Sorry for your loss. Don and Flo were dear, dear friends of ours, and I hope the many memories you have of your Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa will help you during this time. Right now, I am thinking of them, along with George and Helen and all the wonderful times they all shared.

Anne Roseman
Newport News, Virginia

Charles Davenport

January 1, 2013

Don's dominating intellect and demanding nature challenged and inspired students. HIs classroom brillance hid a warm, interested, even loving person concerned about his students and their growth, both academically and personally. He was a prolific scholar, but nothing exceeded his love for his family. His acuity in navigating through both his personal and professional life made him extraordinary, unusual, and not replicable.

John O'Neal

January 1, 2013

Flo Lillibridge was my high school senior English teacher and almost flunked me. She warned me about keeping up if I ever had Prof Lillibridge in class. I dodged him at CSC in the 60's. I did discover his heroic actions as a Marine especially on Tarawa after I too became a military veteran. We had some good email discussions.
Rest in Peace Marine
(and all that jazz)

Les Fredrickson

December 31, 2012

Don had a great influence on my professional career and my choice of an academic major when I was a student at Chico State College in the 1950's. He was often brilliant in his lectures, especially when covering the twentieth century. I admired his political stances and his humanistic, rational approach to the issues of the day, both past and present. I was inspired by his passionate belief in the very best ideals and traditions of American society and government and his unflinching criticism of what he saw as wrong, unfair or undemocratic. His published books continue to remind me of his eloquence and gifts as a writer, essayist and lecturer.

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results