Michael Mendelson

OREFIELD - Doctor Michael Mendelson passed away peacefully at home. Mike was born at Fort McPherson, Georgia. An Army Brat (son of a career Army officer) Mike traveled from Georgia to Alaska, Virginia, South Korea, and Frankfurt Germany before embarking on his higher education at the University of Massachusetts and the University of California, San Diego where he earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy. At UCSD he met and married the true love and highlight of his life, Gale A. Vigliotti. After teaching at UCSD, Gale and he returned to her birth state, Pennsylvania, accepting a teaching position in the Lehigh University Philosophy Department, where he taught for 21 years. Mike was an internationally recognized scholar of Augustine, and a teacher beloved by his students. A true non-conformist, he sported a dry wit, a profound intellect, and a passion for the music of Jethro Tull. His somber view of the world came from his boundless affection for others, a fact well known to decades of students. As Gale became bedridden with MS, Mike spent all his waking hours,, that he was not teaching, at her bedside, making her as comfortable as possible. Gale pre-deceased him on July 4, 2014. Mike will be greatly missed by the family members he behind: his older brother Jim Mendelson, three nieces, a nephew and a great nephew; along with his companion and caregiver Kim Keirmaier who greatly assisted him in his protracted battle with end stage renal failure. Services: A memorial service will be held at the Lehigh University Packer Chapel at 1:00 pm on Monday December 5, 2016 followed by internment at Slatedale Cemetery next to his beloved Gale. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Kidney Fund or Heartland Hospice.