 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Saying goodbye wasn't easy. But for the nearly 300 mourners who came to honor Hobart and William Smith Colleges' friend and benefactor, William F. Scandling '49, LL.D. '67 the lessons of his life made the farewell a little less painful. Mr. Scandling, who died in August at age 83, was memorialized Sept. 25 at a service in the Great Hall of Saga. While stoic faces masked the deep sense of loss over the death of this remarkable individual, it was difficult not to fully enjoy and laugh, at times, as humorous recollections were shared. One by one the speakers at the celebration - which was attended by friends, family, faculty, trustees, students, colleagues and professional acquaintances from near and far - described how Mr. Scandling touched their lives. Each remembrance was special and inspiring; some were attended by tears. How could it have been otherwise? Mr. Scandling was a rare treasure. The stately Great Hall of Saga in the sprawling Scandling Center was a fitting venue for the service, as dedicated dining staff nearby prepared a sumptuous luncheon feast for guests. For Michael Scandling, his father's career path reflected his forward-thinking personality. "He fed students. He enabled the students in the institution that served them. And students, after all, are the future and our hope for the future. He felt a deep and broad hope and he expressed it in many, many, many ways all of us here know. And in so many ways, at so many levels, he challenged and inspired every single one of us here to imagine a better future and enabled us to build one. " Mr. Scandling's inventive entrepreneurial spirit made him a financial success. But as speaker after speaker noted, his greater legacy is how he treated people and shared his wealth. He profoundly changed the landscape of the Colleges and the University of Rochester, and other higher institutions of learning as well. He illustrated the extraordinary amount of good one person can accomplish in the brief span of a lifetime - and, in his case, how lives, institutions and important causes he invested in philanthropically have been empowered to do important work. Colleges President Mark Gearan summarized Mr. Scandling's enormous influence, recognizing not only his gifts of more than $33 million, but also his investments of time, talent, caring and friendship to so many. Quoting John Quincy Adams, Gearan said: "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. I think Adams defined Bill Scandling's leadership at the Colleges. Bill inspired others on the Board of Trustees and fellow alums to dream more . he motivated students to learn more with the example of his own successful life. He provided access for many students with promise through scholarships so that they could do more and become more. In all these ways and many more, Bill Scandling's impact is felt and realized on this campus. " That impact was also felt in his hometown of Rochester, namely the University of Rochester's Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Robert Sproull, president emeritus of the U of R, and Raffaella Borasi, dean of the Warner School, called Mr. Scandling's gifts critical to the school's metamorphosis. "The school of education at the University of Rochester has certainly been the ugly duckling of the university, barely surviving for many years until Bill created an entirely new college emphasizing research and research-based community service, " Sproull said. "His gift of money was certainly vital, but so was his vision . He was determined that anything that bore [his wife] Margaret Warner's name be of the highest quality and relevance. "
"His vision, mentoring and carefully designed financial support all contributed to transform what at the time was a school of education struggling with both identity and financial issues, into a thriving, growing organization with a clear mission, promoting change in education that can improve people's lives and make the world more just and humane, " Borasi said. Theresa Canada, associate professor of education and educational psychology at Western Connecticut State University was a recipient of the annual, prestigious Scandling scholarship while an education doctoral student at the U of R. "Receiving the Scandling scholarship enhanced my confidence to pursue educational excellence. My professional accomplishments thus far confirm that the award was not given in vain, " she said. Mr. Scandling's generosity of spirit set the tone for his company, which Paul Zaroogian described as a place where employees loved to work because their leader cared so much for them. Zaroogian, general manager of dining services at HWS, said many lives were affected by Mr. Scandling and his partners. "Words cannot describe the Scandling and Saga legacy," he said. "Once you have been exposed to it, it stays with you for life. Working for Saga was like working for family. Family is an important word to Saga veterans. It comes up again and again. Saga workers went through many transitions starting in 1986 (after the sale to Marriott). Through all this, they have carried on the Saga Way, including all the values learned and experienced. " It can be hard to see a man of such stature as a father and husband. But that picture was provided on an upbeat note by Michael Scandling, with his delightful remembrances and the taped message he played from his stepmother and his father's second wife Yvette, who was recovering from surgery and unable to attend. Yvette Scandling expressed her good fortune at having spent 10 wonderful years as Mr. Scandling's wife, companion and friend. "I can hear him saying to us all: Death is nothing at all. It does not hurt. I've only skipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I and you are you and whatever we were to each other that we still are. Think of me. Laugh as we always laughed. " Michael's thoughtful reflections traced a lifetime with his father, a journey that ended on a beautifully sorrowful note in Montreal in August. "You were very tired, but you waited for me. I looked at you in awe and you looked at me with love. And yes sir, I got it. I remember holding your fragile hand in mine and I said to you, 'You'll do all right. ' I will remember you Dad. " Michael Scandling said his father's zestful essence would make him frown on mourners dwelling in the past. "What he would want us to do right now is to go and laugh and joke and tell stories and have a great time and, in the spirit of a Dixieland jazz wake, enjoy the music. He'd want us to eat, drink and be merry. " A Dixieland band was waiting in the wings, and moments later, the band's spirited rendition of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee," set the tone for such merriment. It may have caused some to recall the words earlier in the celebration of the Rev. John Collins, pastor of The Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City. Sharing how Mr. Scandling made friends everywhere he went, Collins said there was never a diner they entered, a convenience store they stopped at or a toll booth they passed through that he would not take the time to talk to the people working there.
"He'd
learn
their
names,
chat
with
them
and
almost
always
lift
their
spirits .
It
is
said
that
the
first
five
people
we
will
meet
in
heaven
are
the
last
five
people
that
served
us
on
earth
and
we're
going
to
be
asked
to
name
them.
Bill
could
do
that,
"
Collins
said. |
|
|
 |
