David Killian

News Death Notice

KILLIAN, David Lawrence 75, was born in Dryden, Michigan to Franklin K. and Martha (Hoxie) Killian. Graduating from Central Michigan University in 1953, he began advanced study in Ann Arbor while serving in the Midland Public Schools as an elementary teacher and principal. He earned his doctorate in 1968, twenty years after his father had earned his doctorate at the University of Michigan. A member of the faculty of the Miami University School of Education between 1968 and 2001, he was credited with leadership qualities in the classroom, in the Teacher Education Department, and in the division, serving briefly in the office of the dean. His students letters of nomination for Effective Educator acknowledge his high expectations, his professionalism, and his dedication to the science of art of teaching. As a role model he was positive, principled, inclusive, witty and wise, and caring. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and advisor to Kappa Delta Pi, the education honoraries. He enjoyed recruiting scholar athletes for education programs. Recognized as a master teacher, mentor, grant writer, and as an effective administrator and coordinator of program development, he planned for future education students by endowing the David L. and Sallie A. Killian Scholarship. In retirement he enjoyed reading widely and sailing Lake Charlevoix in Michigan. He enjoyed traveling in the States and Canada and visits to Mexico, Costa Rica, New Zealand, and sixteen European countries. David made a farewell tribute to many friends and colleagues in April 2001 before his retirement with a gala in the Heritage room, Shriver Center celebrating the Miami mystique and connections. He is survived by Sallie, his wife of 52 years, daughter Kathryn in California, son Kyle and grandsons Mikael and Aleksi in Toronto, and brother Robert, a niece, and a nephew in Michigan. Disposition of the cremated remains will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements were made by Smith & Ogle Funeral Home and Vielhauer-Clepper Funeral Home. The family appreciates the support of Dr. Terry Hunt, Dr. Jamie Waselenko and the staffs at the Leder Clinic and McCullough-Hyde. Having enjoyed the town/gown, small-town ambience for over forty years, David expressed his appreciation with an endowed fund in the Oxford Community Foundation and by cherishing the now-famous line from an early Miami alums diary. "To think that in such a place we lived such a life."