Herbert L. Schultz, Professor Emeritus of Music, passed away on October 2, 2007. Dr. Schultz was on the faculty of the University of Vermont for 30 years — from 1956-1986. He was the conductor of the UVM Band for his entire time here at UVM, founded the Vermont Wind Ensemble, ran UVM's High School Summer Music Session for many years, and taught the music education courses in the Music Department. Dr. Schultz founded the Northeast Music Festival and developed it from a single group of 40 - 50 high school students at Ira Allen Chapel, to a four-day festival with two high school bands and an adult community band that occurs every November in Lake Placid, NY, and is part of his ongoing legacy.

Professor Emeritus William Murrell Schenk of Richmond, Vermont passed away on January 21, 2008 after a seven-year battle with cancer. In his 37 years of service to the university, Bill served as the technical director, scenic and lighting designer, teacher, mentor, and as department chair for ten years. During his tenure at the university, Bill was instrumental in the growth of the Department of Theatre overseeing the renovation of and move to its current home, the Royall Tyler Theatre in the 1970s. Bill's passion and love of scenic, lighting design and stage management can be seen in the hundreds of his students who have gone on to professional careers in the performing arts. He was also active in labor organization at the University of Vermont.

A memorial service was held in Royall Tyler Theatre on February 2nd at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the William M. Schenk Award for Technical Excellence at the University of Vermont and/or the Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, VT 05495.

Edward J. Feidner, Professor Emeritus of Theatre at the University of Vermont, died on April 24, 2008 at Fox Hill Center in Vernon, CT. He was 77 and lived in North Bennington, VT. The cause was complications from a stroke. Dr. Feidner's career at UVM spanned 36 years, during which he directed, produced or acted in more than 125 theatrical productions, including all but three of Shakespeare's plays. He was producer and artistic director of Vermont's internationally renowned Champlain Shakespeare Festival for 18 years between 1962 and 1980. In 1965 Feidner was named UVM's first director of drama; in 1972 he was named UVM's first full professor of Theatre; and in 1977 he was named the department's first chairperson. In 1969, to meet UVM's need for a professional fine-arts complex, Feidner's creative proposal to transform what had originally been built as a gymnasium resulted in the establishment of UVM's Royall Tyler Theatre.

A celebration of his life will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at the Park-McCullough House in North Bennington and also on Saturday, June 14 at 11 a.m. at the Royall Tyler Theatre in Burlington. His UVM memorial will coincide with the UVM Theatre Alumni Reunion weekend.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Edward J. Feidner Award Fund, which provides scholarships for UVM Theatre majors.

Donations for either Theatre award fund should be mailed to:
UVM Department of Theatre
Royall Tyler Theatre
116 University Place
Burlington, VT 05405
Attention: Molly

James Steven Pacy, 77, died on April 21, 2008, at his home in Burlington. He was Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Vermont. Dr. Pacy joined the University of Vermont's Political Science Department in 1967, and served until he chose early retirement in 1993. During his 26 years with the department, he was acting chairperson twice and chairperson once. Among his many campus activities and services rendered, he is especially remembered for the minutes he wrote as secretary of the College of Arts and Sciences, and for having served some dozen years as advisor to the Warren R. Austin Model United Nations Club. He was Foreign Service Advisor, Campus Coordinator for the U.S. Department of the State's Diplomat-in-Residence Program, and enjoyed a turn as chairperson of the university's Athletic Council, and as Faculty NCAA Representative. One of his more memorable UVM assignments was being sent to Geneva, Switzerland to help determine the University of Vermont's interest in establishing a program in international organization there.

Those wishing to remember him may donate to the Humane Society of Chittenden County, 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington, VT 05403.