Obituary of Martin L. Fausold

Dr. Martin L. Fausold, 86, Distinguished Service Professor of History at the State University of New York at Geneseo, died Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at Highland Hospital in Rochester, NY. Dr. Fausold was en eminent scholar of Herbert C. Hoover and the American Presidency; he authored or co-authored five books and numerous articles throughout his career. His 1985 The Presidency of Herbert Hoover, published by University of Kansas Press, was a finalist for the Richard Neustadt Award. His 1991 The Constitution and the American Presidency was co-authored with Professor Alan Shank, then chair of the Geneseo Political Science Department. Martin Luther Fausold was born November 11, 1921 in Irwin, Pennsylvania the son of Samuel and Edna Breegle Fausold. Professor Fausold received his B.A. in History from Gettysburg College, served in the European and Asiatic theaters during World War II, and completed his PhD in 1953 from Syracuse University, in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Professor Fausold joined the Geneseo faculty in 1958 as chair of the Division of Social Science. During his 11-year tenure, the division grew to seven departments and 80 faculty members. Professor Fausold continued to teach, research, and serve the department until his retirement in 1992. Among his many contributions is the on-going Washington Semester program, an internship and research opportunity in public policy for SUNY students that he conceived and initiated in 1970. He also served as SUNY-wide chair of the University Awards Committee for twenty years, and presided over the University Faculty Senate (known then as the Faculty Association) 1965-1967. He was recognized in 1985 with the rank of Distinguished Service Professor. In addition to his work on presidential history, Professor Fausold embraced scholarly work on local and SUNY history with great enthusiasm. His James W. Wadsworth: Gentleman from NY (Syracuse University Press, 1975) researched Wadsworths Congressional career. Professor Fausold was the co-director of the Valley, Village, College permanent exhibit in Newton Hall, which he developed 1987-1991 with the New York State History Museum. Until his death, Professor Fausold continued his work on the history of the State University of New York that was begun in 1988; he had amassed 25 linear feet of materials at Milne Library for this on-going project and was an active contributor to an upcoming symposium, headed by Professor emeritus W. Bruce Leslie, SUNY-Brockport, to celebrate SUNYs 60th anniversary. In 2004, Gettysburg College presented Professor Fausold with their Alumnus Award for a lifetime of professional and civic service. Dr. Fausold was preceded in death by his wife Daryl Clement Fausold, son Martin Samuel Fausold and son in law Michael McCaffery. He is survived by 3 daughters, Sharon Ann McCaffery of Martinsburg, WV, Cynthia Lynn (John) Schwanz of Ellicott City, MD, Marti Clement Fausold (Steven) Mowers of Fishers, NY, grandchildren, Stacy Leigh (Chris) McCaffery, Adam Michael McCaffery, John Martin Schwanz and Molly Schwanz, Austin Samuel Fausold Mowers, CoeDee Clement Sperlin Mowers, and Georgia Laureen AnnaLynn Mowers, several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. No prior calling hours. Memorial Services will be held Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at Central Presbyterian Church, 31 Center St. in Geneseo with Rev. Colin Pritchard officiating. Interment will be in the Temple Hill Cemetery in Geneseo. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gettysburg College History Department, Director of Planned Giving, 300 N.Washington St., Gettysburg, PA, 17325 in Dr. Fausold's name.