For almost two decades, Al Studesville worked as a counselor at Madison College. His wife, Janet, was very active in a non-profit agency called Women in Focus and would have served as president this year.
Many in the Madison community felt a loss with their passing on June 4 in a tragic motorcycle accident in rural Texas, and now there is an effort to rename the newly constructed Truax Gateway entrance in their memory.
Bob and Sandy Fuller were close friends with the Studesvilles. They created a petition to rename Madison College’s newly constructed Gateway building after their friends. As of Sept. 18, the paper petitions had around 500 signatures and the online petition had about 280 signatures. The goal is to reach 5,000 signatures by Oct. 9.
“It’s overwhelming how many people are leaving comments all over the United States on the petition website,” said Bob Fuller, when asked about the website. “At Labor Fest, you couldn’t get the petition out of his hands enough for people to sign; even politicians signed it,” said Sandy Fuller of the recognition for the Studesvilles petition.
Many coworkers of Al Studesville are not hesitant to share their memories of the Studesvilles. Delisa Scott worked in the same department with Al Studesville as a counselor. When asked about Al Studesville, she has only beautiful things to say.
“I certainly can understand why students, staff and the community would want to name the Gateway after a person such as Al Studesville,” Scott said. “Al was a very welcoming person who would do all that he could to make sure that you were comfortable and had all that you needed to get down to business. One of his favorite and famous sayings was that he ‘matched energy with energy.’ He was true to his word. If you came in with energy and enthusiasm for a goal that you wanted to reach, no matter what it was, he would go out of his way to help you reach that goal. He was the kind of person ‘who knew somebody, who knew somebody’ and he was able to help students and others in the community make connections for all kinds of business and other partnerships.”
Scott remembered seeing the Studesvilles in the community before she worked with Al.
“I witnessed this same energy out in the community,” she said. “He and his wife were always involved in activities that were designed to help others, particularly activities which encouraged learning and education. They were not only generous donors, but they also rolled up their sleeves and worked tirelessly for the causes they believed in.”
On campus, Studesville was also involved in “Wiser Older Workers,” a group of displaced older workers that Al Studesville was active with for many years, helping people return to the workforce.
“He was very honest and truthful with them,” Scott said. “They could identify with Al because he had been downsized – he had to find a new job after so many years. Al understood what these people were going through and could help them through that. Not all of us have experienced that yet and that is something that is very special. ‘Wiser Older Workers’ was very important to him.”
Studesville was a close friend of Richard Seibt and the two met while working on some recordings for “Wiser Older Workers.” He wants to create a scholarship for the group in memory of his friend.
“Al and I became friends from the first time we met,” Seibt said. “I worked with him on many projects, inside and outside the college. His granddaughter was born around the same time as my son and our time together changed from discussing cigars, politics and how we give to our community to exchanging pictures of his granddaughter and my son while swapping stories of their development and milestones.”
When asked what Al Studesville would think of efforts to rename the Gateway in honor of him and his wife, Seibt had a different insight to give. He believes a scholarship for ‘Wiser Older Workers’ would be the best way to honor his friend and co-worker.
“I believe a scholarship in his memory for displaced workers would be the best way we could honor him. His work in recent years with the WOW group and displaced workers helped lift many whom would otherwise fall in to the depths of despair, or worse.”
Seibt did give an interesting idea on how to raise money for the scholarships.
“If 900 people showed up to a public event and each donated $5, then it would provide enough money to start something.”
Deb Olsen worked as a counselor with Studesville and shares how he was in the community, the work environment and in personal conversations.
“Al was one of those people who once you met him – you felt you knew him,” Olsen said. “He had a deep, booming voice that included his love of laughter – both that could be heard in a large conference room when he’d enter it. He shared that he loved to help people make connections – with other people, with academic, personal and/or career decisions, with resources – and he was deliberate in helping others make those connections. He loved this college. “
Sandra Blumer did not work in the same department as Studesville but is a senior advisor at Madison College and was eager to share her thoughts about him.
“He was caring, compassionate and empathetic to the people in and outside of Madison College,” Blumer said. “He was active and involved and his contribution to our community made a positive difference to many people’s lives. He was also one of the best huggers that I ever met. I didn’t really know Jan but both of my parents went to high school with her in Monroe.”
It is safe to say that the community and many other places around the United States are still mourning the loss of two great leaders and they will be missed dearly. Al and Jan Studesville touched the lives of many people, not just students, but co-workers and group members of groups they were involved in as well.
“He would take you, give you a hug and you were just lost. His hugs were one of a kind. He was a wonderful man,” Sandy Fuller said.
The petition to rename the Gateway in honor of the Al and Jan Studesville is posted online at http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/studesvillegateway.