Past Departmental Recipients of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Alumni Association's Distinguished Faculty Award

The Alumni Association of Hobart College and the Alumnae Association of William Smith College jointly award the Distinguished Faculty Award. The award was established in order to emphasize the importance that the graduates of these Colleges place on the contributions of the outstanding faculty members of the past. "It is our way of recognizing and honoring those who were our mentors, who molded us and nurtured us during our intellectual awakening, who taught us our limits and challenged our capabilities, and who inspired the best in us. More than anything else during our college years, outstanding teachers made the experience so valuable, and we recognize these professors as worthy of particular distinction and honor." Joint Resolution of the Honors Committees of the Alumni and Alumnae Councils

Irving O. Bentsen '54 (1998) Member of the faculty, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 1966-1991 A 1950 graduate of the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, at Hobart he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his junior year, and as a senior was tapped as a Druid. He graduated cum laude with a B.A. in mathematics in 1954. He received his M.A. in mathematics from the University of Rochester in 1956, and then studied at Rutgers University from 1958 to 1964. Awarded his Ph.D. in 1965, Dr. Bentsen returned to the Colleges as Assistant Professor in 1966, and when he retired in June 1991, the Board of Trustees named him Professor Emeritus. Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science for seven years, he also served on many faculty committees, and was awarded the Faculty Community Service Award in 1981. Highly regarded as a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, his students responded to his love of mathematics and stretched to meet his high expectations. Students appreciated his fairness, his patience, and good nature, adjusting readily to his classroom style, participating actively in the solving of problems and development of proofs. With his character, teaching, leadership, and loyalty, Professor Bentsen has touched, and was an inspiration to, Hobart and William Smith students, his colleagues, and his community. Abigail Mosey (1996) Member of the faculty, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 1944-1991 Abigail Mosey earned her baccalaureate from Nazareth College in Rochester in 1936 and her M.A. from Syracuse University in 1944. She began her career at the Colleges in 1944, as a replacement instructor in the Navy's V-12 program. She became a full-time instructor in 1946, assistant professor in 1954, associate professor in 1958, and full professor of mathematics in 1979. Provost Walter Durfee described her as "one of the best teachers the department had in my 40 years of experience." She always sought experiences which would broaden her value as a teacher and counselor for whom, according to a former student, "learning and life were fully integrated." A faculty peer stated that, "her dedication to her teaching, her loyalty to the CollegesÉand her concern for the well-being of each of her students are outstanding." She received the Faculty Prize for Teaching in 1978. Her enthusiasm, intellect, patience, and understanding, touched generations of students during her 47-year career at the Colleges. William Pitt Durfee, LL.D. '22 (1993) Member of the faculty, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 1884-1929 William Pitt Durfee was "one of the most loved personalities in the history of Hobart." He taught mathematics for 45 years, was Dean of Hobart for 37 years, and served as acting president on four occasions. When he was appointed Dean of Hobart in 1888, it was believed to have been the first such appointment at an American liberal arts college. Known on campus as "genial Durf," he was involved in many aspects of campus life during his career. In 1918 he started the Student Army Training Corps, which helped the Colleges survive the difficult war years. Because of his dual role as teacher and dean, he touched generations of Hobart men in both a nurturing and scholarly manner. His sociability and classroom instruction distinguished him as a teacher of the whole man. He taught kindness, patience, and understanding as much as he taught mathematics. He taught as much by example as he did by instruction. Walter Hetherington Durfee, Sc.D. '59 (1993) Member of the faculty, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 1921-1959 During his 38- year career at the Colleges, Walter Hetherington Durfee received many citations for excellence as a teacher, a friend to students, and a leader in the fortunes of the Colleges. Like his father before him, he taught mathematics with distinction, served as Dean of Hobart for many years, and filled in as acting president when the need arose. He was also appointed to the newly-created post of provost in 1948, and in both that position and as dean, he brought to the Colleges many fine teachers whom he nurtured and encouraged. Thus, Walter Durfee was regarded as both a gifted teacher and a valued colleague. His students remember him as a complete teacher who guided them through the difficulties of calculus and its practical applications in probability, physics, and chemistry. His dry wit, practical nature, and infinite patience in and out of the classroom convinced all students that they could master the mysteries of applied mathematics. Horace Webster (1990) Member of the faculty, Geneva College, 1825-1848 A West Point graduate and member of its faculty, Professor Webster became a revered teacher and administrator during the early years of the College. He was the first professor of mathematics and professor of intellectual philosophy, was acting president (1828-30 and 1835-36) and treasurer (1844-48). He was a strict disciplinarian, but he was fair and always listened to what his students had to say. He loved and encouraged the faithful student in every way and was affectionately known as "Old Fess." He left in 1848 to become the first president of the Free College of New York (later CCNY). John Towler Member of the faculty, Hobart College, 1852-1882 Hired as professor of modern languages and literature, Professor Towler could teach almost anything. He later became professor of mathematics, chemistry, natural philosophy, and civil engineering. He was dean of the Geneva Medical College (1853-72), where he was awarded the M.D. degree and taught anatomy, pharmacology, toxicology, and medical jurisprudence. He was very popular with students and was a striking figure with his red-lined military cloak and long white hair. He also served as acting president (1875-76) and bursar. Professor Towler contributed greatly to the development of photography, and his book The Silver Sunbeam (1864) had nine printings and was translated into four languages.