Dr. Frederick W. "Jiggs" McConnell Jr.

Dr. McConnel, you made our Moravian Experience special. You allowed Terrell McMann and I to visit you frequently at your farm and you and Josie were amazing hosts. Thank you for you mentor-ship, love and kindness. -Dinesh Pandya, '72, Moravian College

I did not have Dr. McConnell for a class and that has been my loss. I do remember that he was very popular, iconoclastic, and student- oriented. Most students who chose more wisely than I by taking his classes often spoke of the lasting positive impact he had on their lives, both at Moravian College and in the years that followed. (Andy Semmel, Arlington, Va.)

Dr. McConnell was, without a doubt, the most influential teacher I ever had. I was a student of his in 1967-70. I learned from him there could be an intellectual basis for religious faith. If I had not been in his classes I might have always dismissed religion as fundamentalist nonsense.

I have just received word of Fred's passing from this world. I still quote Fred's words on farming and life and still have an image of him in class. He had a profound impact on me beyond the content of the courses he taught in 1963. I continued my education becoming a philosophy major and then went on to become a Moravian minister. I was helped to those decisions by the influence of Fred's teaching and being. He taught me to appreciate the sacredness of truth and not to be afraid of reason...

We did not know your Husband, Best Friend, Uncle. Surely Dr. McConnell stands beside Jesus completely understanding all of God's mysterious ways. We hope this poem helps to ease your grief.
"Life is but a stopping place
A pause in what's to be
A resting place along the road
To sweet eternity
We all have different journeys
Different paths along the way
We all were meant to learn somethings
But never meant to stay
Our destination is a place
Far...