Campus News 2003-2004 Academic Year

Passing of Two Pitzer Mainstays

July 28, 2004 - Pitzer College is saddened to announce the passing of Carl H. Hertel, emeritus professor of art and environmental design. Professor Hertel came to the College in 1966 and was a frequent visitor and honored guest at many events since his retirement in 1994.

He earned his B.A. in art and Chinese history from Pomona College in 1952 and his M.A. in Far Eastern languages and history from Harvard in 1955. Professor Hertel returned to Claremont to earn his M.F.A. in painting at Claremont Graduate School in 1958.

Professor Hertel frequently collaborated with Paul Shepard, Pitzer professor of human ecology, to produce an artist’s and scientist’s perception of nature and culture in the Great Basin, Mojave, and Sonoran Deserts in the United States and Mexico. Their reflections are said to have served as a basis for an explanation of how a Pitzer education traditionally crosses boundaries and expands the limits of teaching and learning through interdisciplinary programs.

Professor Hertel was very inspirational during his 27 years of teaching. He is fondly remembered by the faculty, staff and alumni of Pitzer and he will be greatly missed. The family requested that the funeral services be private, with family and children only.

In the spring of this year, Professor Hertel spoke at Alumni College. The title of his talk was “Across Desert Boundaries: Along the Trail with Human Ecologist Paul Shepard.” In his talk, he remembered how he chose William Stafford’s poem “Watching Sandhill Cranes” to read at Professor Shepard’s funeral in 1996. It seems fitting that we share this poem with you.

Then some day here come the cranes
planing in from cloud or mist-sharp,
lonely spears, awkwardly graceful.
They reach for the land; they stalk
the ploughed fields, not quite letting us near;
not quite our own, not quite the world’s.

In addition to his many exhibits and wide-ranging studies of native art forms and the role of the environment in art, Professor Hertel acted as consultant, producer and director for various film festivals and multimedia productions.

If you wish to make a gift for Carl at Pitzer, please e-mail giving@pitzer.edu.

Pitzer College continues to mourn the passing of Emeritus Professor of Physics S. Leonard Dart. Professor Dart was a founding member of the Pitzer College faculty and of the Joint Science Department.

He received his B.A. from Oberlin College and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Notre Dame. He originally came to the Claremont Colleges as a professor of physics at CMC in 1954.

Professor Dart, who retired from teaching in 1983, was much admired as a teacher by his students. He is very fondly remembered by the faculty and staff of Joint Science and of Pitzer and he will be greatly missed.