Tuesday, Oct 1, 2013
The Rider University community mourns the loss of Dr. Guy Weston Stroh, retired professor and former chairman of the Department of Philosophy, who passed away suddenly on September 2, 2013 at the age of 82.
Dr. Stroh joined the faculty of Rider as an assistant professor of Philosophy in 1956. He was elevated to associate professor in 1963 and earned a full professorship in 1966. Dr. Stroh served as chair of the Department of Philosophy from 1963 until 1996, and was given emeritus status upon his retirement in 2002.
During his tenure at Rider, Dr. Stroh served as president of the Faculty Senate and was elected to two terms as president of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. He was the recipient of the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1966, authored five books on American philosophy and American ethics, and published numerous articles in philosophic and academic journals.
Dr. Robert C. Good, chairman of the Department of Philosophy, called Dr. Stroh a “real leader” in moving Rider to a place where liberal arts “were taken very seriously.” He said Dr. Stroh was not only an expert in American philosophy, but someone who truly enjoyed working with and counseling his students.
In addition to his academic work, Dr. Good said Dr. Stroh was a terrific athlete. “He played tennis nearly all his life, and even coached the Rider freshman baseball team when he was first hired. But philosophy was really his passion.”
While remembering his former colleague, Dr. Good said, “Dr. Stroh was first and foremost a teacher, as well as a caring, concerned mentor. He taught all of us the most important job here – our first priority – was the quality of our teaching and what we were passing on to our students.”
Asked what Dr. Stroh will be most known for at Rider, Dr. Good said implementing a “Preceptorial System” for philosophy students, which he learned at Princeton and brought here. “Our department was and is still unique in that our students attend two philosophy lectures a week, as well as one small-group discussion session,” he explained.
The Philosophy Department will hold a Remembrance Ceremony for Dr. Stroh on Wednesday, October 9 at 7 p.m. in the Chapel. All students and faculty are welcome to attend. Memorial contributions are also being accepted to the Guy W. Stroh Philosophy Scholarship Fund, c/o University Advancement, Moore Library, Suite 137, at Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Please call the Development Office with any questions, 609-896-5167.
