1月2日星期二. 2, 2024, the Heidelberg community lost a beloved retired 教师 member with the passing of Professor Emeritus of Mathematics 梅尔·Casler. Below is a tribute announcement that Heidelberg 总统 罗伯·亨廷顿 shared with those who knew, 我爱过梅尔，也会想念梅尔的.
2024年1月5日
亲爱的同事们,
心情沉重, I write to inform you of the passing of one of 澳门银河网站’s iconic professors and a larger-than-life presence on our campus, 即使在他退休的时候. 梅尔文F. Casler, age 92, passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at The Courtyard East in 吃午饭. Mel’s stellar career as a math professor endured well beyond his 29 years as a 教师 member and is best reflected in the legacy he imparted upon the lives and careers of his ‘Berg students.
听到梅尔的死讯, many of those now-alumni have expressed sadness and shared stories and memories about Mel. 在他们的颂词中, 他们形容他是一块宝石, 杰出的教授, 一位导师, 一个快乐而热情的绅士, 知识, 有魅力的, 种类, 病人, 独一无二的, 一个对乐趣有着永不满足的热情的爱开玩笑的人, 也是澳门银河网站校园里的常客.
梅尔得了B.S. degree in Mathematics from Aberdeen State University (formerly Northern State Teachers College) and his M.A. 毕业于鲍登学院. 在1962年加入澳门银河网站学院之前, 梅尔曾在密歇根州的阿德里安学院和奥顿维尔的高中任教, 明尼苏达州. He received Emeritus status from the Board of Trustees for his distinguished teaching.
尽管梅尔30年前就正式退休了, 1962年至1966年和1968年至1993年分别在澳门银河网站任教, Heidelberg was the home he never truly left – much to the delight of his former students who sought him out to reconnect with him during class reunions. 澳门银河网站周末期间, 你会经常找到梅尔, 周围都是以前的学生, 好像他又在主持法庭似的. 他给他们的生活带来了多么大的变化啊!
Many of the tributes have focused on Mel’s teaching prowess; he had superior skill and patience for explaining complex calculus, 几何和统计主题, 在许多其他具有挑战性的数学概念中. 他教了一代又一代的学生——父母和他们的孩子. 他那洪亮、洪亮的嗓音有时会让人望而生畏. 但最终，他的目标是帮助学生充分掌握他的课程内容. 他经常竭尽全力确保他们成功.
就像梅尔退休后还在继续教学一样, 他的影响超出了澳门银河网站, 到蒂芬社区和世界各地. He made many trips to China to represent Heidelberg during a summer teaching exchange with Tianjin Normal University. 他非常喜欢分享他在中国旅行时的教学经验. 是的，他做到了! 在2010年秋天我第一次去清华大学之前, 我记得梅尔来到总统办公室告诉我该怎么做, 不要做什么, 以及如何在中国表现. 以经典的讲课形式, Mel held nothing back as he “coached” me assertively for that upcoming journey.
除了教学, Mel served as an advisor to the Kappa Psi Omega Sorority and was an honorary member of the Excelsior Men’s Society. He was a fixture in the dining hall and enjoyed conversing with students regularly. He also was the assigned advisor for students who were on academic probation and took seriously his role in assisting them in establishing academic plans that would increase their chances for success. 即使退休了，他仍然在校园里辅导有困难的学生.
Students who may have missed getting to know Mel after his retirement quickly learned of his ’Berg presence during Commencement rehearsals. For many years – with bullhorn in hand – he delighted in his role of barking marching orders to graduating students, 教师, 和工作人员. One particular point he never forgot to make was to tell students that as they walked across the stage to receive their diploma, 他们应该步行去见总统，因为他不会来找他们!
I remember vividly and viscerally my first Commencement rehearsal in spring 2010. As I was standing on that stage in Seiberling Gym while Mel barked these instructions to the graduating students, 我不知道他是谁，也不知道他为什么大喊大叫. But I enjoyed watching lots of shocked student faces as they listened attentively. 这很有趣! 然后梅尔放下扩音器，走上舞台. 我冻结了. He marched over to me, pointed to an imaginary “x” on the platform, and started yelling at me, “Mr. 总统, do not move off that “x” or move an inch toward the approaching students! 拿着他们的文凭，等着他们! 你明白吗??” Well, by now lots of student eyeballs were popping out and many students were laughing too. 如果我有魔术贴或胶水，我就会把它用在我的鞋子上! 梅尔每年排练的时候都会重复这个动作, I think that it took me three more years to enjoy that moment rather than fear it.
另外, he provided a major gift for the naming of a classroom in Gillmor Science Hall and was a significant contributor to The Society Challenge in 2015-16, a fund-raising challenge among our Greek organizations to raise money for France Hall.
It will surprise no one to know that Mel frequently tested his own math acuity as an advanced SODUKU enthusiast. His family notes that he loved watching wrestling and sharing tales of growing up in his hometown of Big Stone City, 南达科塔州. 他是参加过朝鲜战争的海军陆战队老兵.
Mel is survived by three children, Dawn (Casler) Reamer, Jay Casler, and Carah Casler. 他还与伯格生物学教授. Pam Faber. Pam’s thoughtful support and 种类ness toward Mel made an early and lasting impression on me. 当时梅尔还能开着他那辆著名的面包车在镇上和校园里转悠, Pam would usually join him for small and big events to ensure that he had what he wanted or needed. In later years, Pam drove Mel around the town or our campus for events and errands.
目前没有葬礼计划. 恩格尔-肖克殡仪馆 & 火葬场正在协助家属作出安排. 你可以在这里阅读梅尔的完整讣告. 梅尔对那些需要经济资助的学生在他心中有着特殊的地位. 如果你想为梅尔的记忆做点贡献的话, 你可以将其指定为澳门银河网站普通学生奖学金基金.
My lasting happy and warm memory of Mel comes from a repeated experience during his many years eating in Hoernemann Refectory while his health held up. 就像澳门银河网站周末一样, 他会坐在餐桌的另一头与人交谈, energetically engaged in long and heated conversations with current or former students, 教师, 或员工. When you listened, you heard Mel giving strong advice and positive encouragement to everyone. 如果我在梅尔在场的一天进入霍内曼, 不管我手里有没有食物, 梅尔总是严厉地说(不叫), “Mr. 总统先生，请坐，我有事要告诉你!“我总是坐下来听他说话.
澳门银河网站作为一个社区一起哀悼梅尔的去世, let us keep alive the many “Mel stories” that are so near and dear to each of us. We send our collective condolences to the many alumni whose lives he so profoundly touched.
尊重,
罗伯·亨廷顿
总统