John A. Van Eerde Ph.D.

"> John A. Van Eerde, Ph.D.
John A. Van Eerde, Ph.D., 89, of Kirkland Village, Bethlehem, formerly of 2423 Washington St., Allentown, died January 8 in the skilled nursing center at Kirkland Village, Bethlehem. He was the husband of Katherine S. (Sommerlatte) Van Eerde. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on July 23. He was a professor of romance languages for Lehigh University, Bethlehem, for 26 years before retiring in 1986. While at Lehigh University, he held the position of chairman of the modern foreign language department from 1978 to 1984. Previously, he was a professor for the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I., from 1955 to 1960, the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn., in 1954, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., from 1948 to 1953, Smith College, Northampton, Mass., from 1947 to 1948, and Amherst (Mass.) College, from 1946 to 1947. Born in Paterson, N.J., he was a son of the late Rudolph and Marie (Dugas) Van Eerde. He was a 1938 graduate of Harvard College and a 1939 graduate of Harvard University, both of Cambridge, Mass. He received his Ph.D. from John Hopkins University in 1953. He served as a captain in the Army during World War II. In 1946, he received the military honor of being named a Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy and in 1973, he received the academic honor of being named a Knight in Academic Laurels. He had been very active with the Institute of Learning and Retirement, Allentown, and authored a book and many articles on romance languages that were published. Survivors: Wife; daughter, Elizabeth M. Van Eerde of Hayward, Calif. Services: Graveside service, 9 a.m. Wednesday, Greenwood Cemetery, Allentown. Memorial service, 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Keystone Dining Room, Kirkland Village, 1 Kirkland Village Circle, Bethlehem. Arrangements, J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown. Contributions: May be made to the Class of 1938 Memorial Fund, c/o Harvard University, Development Office, 124 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, MA 02138.