Louis Tomlinson Benezet

Benezet, Louis Tomlinson Former educator and college president, died at home in Mill Valley, California on January 23, 2002. He was born in La Crosse, WI on June 29, 1915 to Louis Paul and Genevieve Tomlinson. He had five children (Joel, dec. 1963, Laura, Julie, Barbara and Martha) with his first wife, the late Mildred Twohy, to whom he was married from 1940 until her death in 1977. He was married to the late Virginia Iglehart Clifford from 1988 until her death in 1999. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1936 (A.B.), Reed College in 1939 (A.M.) and Columbia University in 1942 (Ph.D.). He also received numerous honorary degrees. Prior to becoming President of Allegheny College in 1948, he was director of admissions at Knox College (1942-1943) assistant to the Dean of University College at Syracuse University (1946-1947) and assistant to the Chancellor at Syracuse University (1947-1948). Following seven years at Allegheny College he became president of Colorado College until 1963. He then became president of Claremont Graduate University. In 1970 he left Claremont to serve as president of SUNY Albany. In 1975 he became research professor and consultant to SUNY Stony Brook until his retirement in 1985. During his life he served on numerous commissions including the California Governor's Commission on Tax Reform (1969), New York Governor's Task Force on Financing Higher Education, and the Rhodes Scholar Selection Committee. Throughout his life he remained passionate about issues of democracy, higher education and human dignity. His articles and books include "Private Higher Education and Public Funding" (1976), "Style and Substance, Leadership in the College Presidency" (1981), and "Restoring America's Failed Democracy" (2000). He served as Trustee of the Aspen Institute in 1956 to 1968. In 1984 he was named Distinguished Alumnus Teacher's College. He is survived by four daughters, four grandchildren and Theodore the cat. Memorial services will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Sausalito, California, February 03, 2002, at 3:00 p.m. Arrangements by Daphne Fernwood Mortuary, (415)383-7100. Funeral Director, Donald Frost, Lc. No. 578.