- Date Of Birth: April 14, 1927
- Date Of Death: April 5, 2015
- State: Michigan
Richard T. Stavig, age 87, died on April 5, 2015, at New Friends Dementia Care in Kalamazoo. Richard ‘Dick’ Stavig was born to Cora and Lawrence Stavig in Tacoma, Washington, in 1927, the second of four brothers. The family moved to Northfield, Minnesota, the following year when Lawrence was named Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church.
The college town of Northfield proved the ideal ground for Dick’s lifelong love of music, sports, literature, and history to take root. He attended high school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after his father was appointed Augustana College president. Dick excelled in school, was active in theater, and led his high school debate team to the state championship, an accomplishment repeated by his youngest brother Mark. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served at Great Lakes Naval Station as World War II ended. In 1946, Dick entered Augustana College, where he met fellow student and choir member LaVonne.
The Garretson girl with the big soprano voice soon captured his heart. He formed his own jazz band; and wrote, directed, and performed in several original musicals while at Augustana. Dick and LaVonne married following graduation, with his father officiating. Dick went on to Princeton University, graduating in 1953 with a Ph.D. in English Literature. After two years teaching at Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, he was appointed to the faculty at Kalamazoo College, where he would spend the rest of his career. Dr. Stavig quickly became an integral part of the college. He not only taught in the English Department but also served as the first Director of the new Foreign Study Program, appointed in 1960.
His title expanded to Dean of Off-Campus Education in 1967 and he held both posts until 1974. In that role, he helped to define the goals of the program, establish study centers throughout Europe and Africa, and guide thousands of students through their overseas adventures. As a Fulbright Lecturer, Professor Stavig taught for a year at Heidelberg University, Germany. Back on campus, Dick was one of the creators of the innovative K-Plan. In 1982, the college recognized his outstanding contributions by making him one of the first recipients of the Lucasse Award, given for excellence in teaching. Stavig also received the college’s Weimer K. Hicks Award in 1993. Generations of students remember him as a favorite teacher, and credit the Study Abroad experience with changing their lives.
His devotion to Kalamazoo College was evidenced by his attendance at nearly every Hornets football and basketball home game and many away games for decades. A slyly competitive tennis player, he rarely missed the annual National Juniors and Boys tennis tournament. After his retirement in 1992, Dick and LaVonne enjoyed winters in Sarasota, Florida, playing team tennis, watching Spring Training, and attending cultural events.
They continued to support many local arts and community organizations when in Kalamazoo. Travel remained part of their lives, with visits to family and friends in Europe as well as the U.S. No matter the level of frustration, Dick never gave up on his favorite professional sports teams, the Detroit Lions and Tigers. Preceded in death by his brothers Paul Lorraine and David Bonnie. Dick is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, LaVonne, two daughters, Jofrid Steve Knoebber and Kaia Robert Esau, a brother, Mark Donna, and a large extended family.
