Eugene Herscher

Eugene Herscher, age 88, professor emeritus at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, died at 11:35 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at Rosewood Care Center in Edwardsville. An early pioneer and administrator at the SIUE Lovejoy Library from 1959 to 1988, he served as assistant director until 1983. Professor Herscher retired in 1988.
He was born July 27, 1923 in the Bronx, New York, the son of the late Reuben and Eva (Shapiro) Herscher. He married Patricia Elaine Kreger in 1954. She preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Iglehart. He is survived by many nieces and nephews.
Professor Herscher received a bachelor's degree from City College of New York in 1947 and a master's in library science from Columbia University in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. From 1951 to 1959 he held library positions at Columbia University, Northwestern University, and the University of Wisconsin. In 1959 he was one of the earliest to locate at the site of the new SIUE campus construction, working from a converted farm house with a small dedicated staff. He developed the technical and fiscal services which produced a rapidly growing library book collection. Professor Herscher also managed the merger of more than 100,000 volumes from the Alton and East St. Louis libraries locations, into the emerging Lovejoy Library at Edwardsville. In the 1960's he brought in and established needed automated services.
Professor Herscher was a long standing member of the Illinois Library Association and past chairman of the Resources and Technical Services section. He was active in the American Library Association, numerous St. Louis library groups and Illinois state wide library committees. He was a member of the American Association of University Professors, Friends of Lovejoy Library, Friends of St. Louis Art Museum, and Friends of Missouri Botanical Gardens.
He will be cremated according to his wishes and will be buried at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon. There will be no visitation or services.
Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Weber & Rodney Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at weberfuneralhome.com.