Stephen Jay Herman

1939 - 2024

Stephen Jay Herman

Easthampton, MA - Stephen Jay Herman died July 1, 2024, at his family home in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Steve was born on June 9, 1939, in New York City and died at the age of 85. Steve was the cherished husband of Gail N. Herman, the loving father of Leta G. Herman, the much loved grandfather of Kandra Herman-Parks and the brother of Bonnie Herman Tomcsik. Steve and his wife Gail were also like parents to Raili Raud who came to them later in life.

A Celebration of Life was held on July 27, 2024, at the Friends Meeting House in Northampton, MA. Sixty people attended and many chose to speak about how much Steve helped them and/or how he affected their lives in positive ways. Their nephew and niece, Jeff Tomcsik and Laurie Conlin, as well as their friends Joan and Don Cseh, and Richard Plaskon also attended the event. Steve's parents Abe and Martha are deceased.

Early in his career Steve taught English in Bridgewater Raritan, NJ, and before that was a caterer in his father's delicatessen and catering business. Steve, however, was a born philosopher and received his PhD at the University of Massachusetts in the Department of Philosophy in the early 70's where he also was a Teaching Assistant for Professor Bruce Aune.

However, Steve's philosophy of work and life gave him definite ideas about leadership practice which led him in 1976 to become Dean of Students for ten years at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Connecticut. His leadership style was personable and open to ideas from faculty and staff. In 1986 to further test his philosophy and practice of leadership, he became President for twenty years at Garrett College in the mountains of Maryland. There he wrote a treatise on establishing a civil community in work and leadership.

Stephen Herman will be remembered for the leadership he gave to his professional organizations as well as to his colleges. His family will remember him for his loving ways, his expertise when they asked for help, and for his amazing smile that could make everyone feel valued, appreciated, and loved. But anyone who knows Steve will also connect him to fishing for blue gills and bass on the three lakes where the family lived over the years: Spofford Lake in NH, Bungee Lake in CT, and Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County, MD.

His wife Gail says, "How can you hold a moonbeam in your hands? You cannot. You can only remember clearly its glimmer and radiance. For those who knew him, Steve's beam will last our whole lifetime." Instead of flowers, the Herman family would appreciate donations to be sent to the Garrett College Foundation in memory of Dr. Stephen J. Herman, former President of Garrett College, 687 Mosser Road, McHenry, Maryland 21541.