Fond remembrances of Chuck, his life, and his work are welcomed here.
33 Replies to “Fond remembrances of Chuck, his life, and his work are welcomed here.”
Chuck’s next to final year as President was my first year as a student, F76. Being the young rebel I was, I participated in the student take over of the president’s office & the “Gold Coast” in 1977 as we demanded that the College endowments divest from investments in South Africa. The memory I want to share is from much later. At the alumni gathering celebrating the 50th anniversary, I mentioned this history to Chuck. He replied that he was very proud that we had done that. That speaks volumes. I am so grateful for everything he did for Hampshire. I want to add my condolences to Polly and the family.
Chuck Longsworth was an extraordinary figure, not just as one of the founders and guiding lights of Hampshire, but as one of my Div III advisors. He was a unique man – kind, thoughtful, brilliant, and devoted to the success of the grand experiment that became Hampshire College.
I will never forget his generous offer to help, when i went to see him and ask for his assistance. He had a million other obligations, but somehow decided to invest his time, wisdom and energy in a somewhat difficult, somewhat arrogant, somewhat naive student who wanted his help. I am pretty sure it was Penina Glazer, my Div III chair, who suggested I seek his help, and I am sure she was part of getting him to do it. Chuck brought a different dimension to my development as a student and person – and i will be forever grateful for the lessons he taught – both explicitly and implicitly.
I came to Hampshire not long after Chuck had departed. It was my first job in what became a long career in philanthropy. I had Penina and Adele as models and mentors, but mostly I was expected to figure things out. Chuck taught me my first lessons in efficiency and grace from a distance. Writing to Colonial Williamsburg, I would ask Chuck for favors of his leadership—a signature on an appeal, an outreach to someone. Always I would receive the same letter back by return mail with his brief handwritten reply. “Happy to.” “Yes.” I learned later this was characteristic of Chuck—respect for the time and effort of others, willingness to do the work. I also learned that I was living in a culture Chuck had created, one that supported my growth and asked and rewarded the best of me. Adele, Penina, Sue Alexander, the alumni and alumnae I came to know, all built on that foundation. For so many of us, in small and big ways, Chuck left gifts that shaped our lives.
I have only warm and grateful memories of Chuck Longsworth, who hired me to the faculty of Hampshire College in 1971, where I taught for 48 years. In his role as President, Chuck was utterly without pretense, giving his heart and soul to the college and expecting the same from every member of the community. He never gave the impression that he was presiding over the college, but only doing his best to help everyone to thrive. His commencement addresses were predictably a highlight of the year, keenly anticipated by all. They were much like a Colbert opening monologue, at the same time acerbic and hilarious. Everyone knew they were written by his wife Polly, and he openly admitted as much. Together, they were Hampshire’s First Family and Hampshire felt like a family with them flying the kite.
Chuck’s thoughtfulness, good cheer and grace was weaved into the fabric of life at Hampshire from my earliest days. Sunday mornings at the Longsworth’s, joining him walking through campus, greeting him on his bike, and being available at those times Division III was as confounding as a Bosch painting. His influence was foundational, obviously for the college, and me as well. I’m grateful for his guiding light at that stage of my life, and for he and Polly’s impact that enriched the experiences of so many of us at Hampshire, and in our lives beyond those years. Condolences & best wishes to the Longsworth family.
As a Div II at Hampshire in the spring of 2018, I was working on an independent study to help gather research for a comprehensive Hampshire College forest stewardship plan. As a part of that project I got to interview Mr. Longsworth in his home near campus. I was very nervous and he was exceptionally kind. He walked me through the inception of Hampshire and how he went about acquiring all the acreage that Hampshire sits on and spoke about his view of Hampshire’s responsibility to ecological preservation in the region. When the interview was over he went to his kitchen counter and gifted me a wooden contraption with a metal hook on it. He told me that he made banana hangers out of oak wood he harvested from his property on the Vermont boarder. He told me that bananas ripen more evenly when they can hang as they do on a tree. Who knows. But for the last 7 years thats where my bananas go. It was a real honor to know him even for just a moment.
I came to Hampshire in the winter of 76 as a transfer student, and was walking across campus a couple weeks later when Chuck walked by and said “Hi, Davis!” I was really impressed with this skill – an administrator I had never met, who bothered to get to know all the names of the people he was in charge of. I’ve worked at a lot of colleges, and I think Chuck was as good as they get.
I joined the Hampshire family in 1971 having returned just one day earlier from Vietnam. Hampshire was very new in those days and Chuck Longsworth was the key to all that happened. My sister and brother-in-law, Kurt and Courtney Gordon both taught at Hampshire and in the Five College astronomy department. My transition to civilian life was not easy as I had been a medical service corps officer in Vietnam and had seen way too much of the results of war. I have been wounded and lost many of my men. It was faculty like Chuck Longsworth, and others who helped me with the transition. I went onto get an MBA from Columbia and retired a few years ago from what I think was a successful career.
I loved reading these comments by Adele, alums, admirers, and friends. Together they capture Chuck’s wonderful personality, his determination to make the College work, and his sense of humor that was crucial to making this wild and creative place thrive.
Chuck was responsible for so much of my career. When he asked me to be the first dean of faculty, I told him that I had no experience in administration. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I will teach you everything I know.” Six weeks later he announced his resignation to become the head of Colonial Williamsburg. “What? I thought you were going to teach me everything you know.” He replied, “I already did.” But there were so many things he did teach me.
One example. When students were protesting at campuses throughout the U.S., presidents were calling in police, making matters worse. When students took over the President’s office at Hampshire, Chuck sent in coffee and doughnuts. Definitely preferable to the police.
Thank you Chuck and Polly for your love of Hampshire, your support for so many of us, and your example as leaders and human beings.
Penina, I had forgotten about the coffee and doughnuts, a perfect example of Chuck’s humanity and sense of fun. We were all figuring out what it meant to be a student or in your case a dean, or in general, a college. I remember being at the first governance meeting to grapple with how Hampshire would govern itself. Everett Hafner suggested that we post an agenda, include anyone’s suggestions, state the time of a meeting, and leave the decision-making to whoever cared enough to show up. Among other things Hampshire taught me to care. I think all of these comments show how much Chuck cared and how his spirit kindled creativity.
Chuck was President when I was a Hampshire Fellow and after graduating I started the theatre department. During some student protests (forget what we were protesting) I went to see Chuck to warn him about potential seizure of buildings by some of my friends, hoping to forestall any confrontation. He listened but unfortunately wasn’t prepared to capitulate to student demands. A group of students locked themselves in the administration building the following morning. Chuck had just returned from out of town and Polly was serving him dinner when I visited him. So gracious and available, a true leader, and he was instrumental in the early success of the college.
Listening to Chuck (and Polly) regale us with tales about the root stories of Hampshire, from scouting it out to fishing so the freezer was ready to entertain donors all year, made me appreciate how much Hampshire thrived due to the heart, soul, love of fishing, and hard work that went into creating and stewarding the college through its babyhood. That he continued to show up for Hampshire was a model this former trustee holds as the way to be one of Hampshire’s “lifers” and I’m so grateful.
Chuck Longsworth embodied the spirit and the grace of Hampshire pioneers. He was welcoming, curious, passionate, yet could build bridges between traditional schools and our wonderful experiment. I was fortunate to get to know him in the early 1970s, when I covered stories as a reporter and photographer for Climax–he was ever gracious, even in tense times, as when students were occupying the Board meeting or vocally challenging his difficult decisions. I was able to express my gratitude to him years later when we sat on boards together–including boards we had challenged as students. He led the creation of a unique place and time; we’ll always be grateful for his service.
I send my heartfelt condolences to Polly and all of the Longsworth family for this great loss. As a fortunate member of Hampshire’s founding class in 1970, Chuck was a very vivid presence in my early experience and I agree wholeheartedly, as others have already said, that his personal approach to “being president” went a long way toward establishing the culture of the college. Although those of us who leaned left and toward the unconventional thought he was very “preppy” his efforts to be accessible to and involved with students (and everyone else on campus) were exceptional and ultimately appreciated even when we disagreed with him.
I remember fondly a moment in the aftermath of an incident of student high jinks when a group of us “stole” and “ransomed” a large, red, and very heavy metal sculpture that had appeared (without any community participation in the decision) on our favored frisbee lawn over Thanksgiving break in 1971. We thought we had remained anonymous, but one evening in the Dining Hall as I was standing on the balcony looking for some friends below, a pair of strong hands rested on my shoulders and held me in place so I couldn’t easily turn around to see who it was and Chuck’s very familiar voice said quietly: “We know who took the sculpture and we forgive you.”
Hi Tim – Sorry just seeing your message now. I didn’t notice when I posted there was the opportunity to reply. I too hold very fond memories of our early efforts to create a theater program at Hampshire. What fun we had making something out of nothing.
I am well (state of the world considered) and have been living in VT for almost 30 years. After leaving performing in the early 80s I spent most of my career as a community organizer and advocate – for the planet – which has a lot in common with theater. I also volunteer periodically with our local theater. I hope you are well too!
in 1970 I met with Hampshire’s first president, Franklin (Pat) Patterson, who sold me on his vision and offered me a position, which I accepted. When I arrived to begin teaching in Fall 1971, Hampshire’s second year of operation, Patterson had left, after apparently discovering that it was more fun to imagine a college than to actually run one. I was somewhat dismayed, even anxious, to learn that the President was now Chuck Longsworth, a former ad-man who had written the financial-planning chapters of the Making of a College. Within the year I came to recognize that Chuck had good judgment, was a good listener, had a sense of humor, and was a better writer than many faculty members. He kept a firm hand on the tiller of a vessel that was still under construction and perilously close to the shoals. When he left Hampshire for Colonial Williamsburg, I asked him how he could abandon us. He confessed that he was intrigued by the opportunity to lead an institution with a 300 million dollar endowment, and by all accounts he did a superb job. Chuck maintained his commitment to Hampshire, and over the years I looked forward to seeing him at college events. At one such event he asked how I felt about how things were going. I said I was thrilled at what we had achieved educationally but disappointed that we weren’t doing better financially. He said, “Neil, it takes 100 years to build a college.” So, Hampshire is a little over halfway there. We should draw inspiration from Chuck’s steadfast commitment and his long view.
Thank you Mr. President , for your innovative, and inspirational vision of a College that gave us students so many intellectual challenges, creative experiences and positive growth. As a student from ’72-’75, I am forever grateful for my years at Hampshire because of your energy, commitment and leadership. May you rest in peace in God’s hands.
While alas I did not meet him personally, his and your shared vision inspired me into Hampshire and continues to do so today in work and life, and going forward…
Please accept my condolences on your and your family’s great loss, and the passing of a so badly needed American visionary and manifestor…
I found Hampshire such a warm and exciting place to go to College, and this emanated from so many different parts of the school — professors, staff, students, student organizations and even funky/cute bureaucratic procedures. I always felt that Chuck Longsworth was key in setting that friendly + intellectually stimulating tone.
As I remember, it was March 31, 1972 when three of us were sleepless in a module wondering how to celebrate April Fool’s Day. Dorli Demmler, Russ Resslhuber and I were goofing on the Hampshire sign at the base of the driveway, which had been painted with colors left over from painting walls in new buildings. We thought it looked like the driveway could lead to a truck stop just as well as to a college, so we found paper and paint and decided on the wording: Chuck’s All-Nite Truck Stop ‘n College. Dorli was the calligrapher. We stayed up all night doing it, and at daybreak we rode rolling desk chairs down the hill and put up our sign. I think Ken Rosenthal drove by and saw us. A few days later there was a note from Chuck in my mailbox: “If you know who up that sign, tell her I got a kick out of it.”
Thanks, Kim! I have the same canvas bag as Lucy. I didn’t know the reference behind the graphic and just shrugged off “Chuck’s All-Night Truck Stop” as just another tongue-in-cheek Hampshireism. It’s nice to hear the story. I didn’t know Chuck personally but we can only revere him and all the founders who had the audacity to dream up Hampshire — and then actually build it. The older I get, the more I appreciate what that took. Thanks, Chuck and Polly! Condolences to your family. Chuck will be so well-remembered by so many.
I entered Hampshire in 1972 and was on the student senate. I remember there was a discussion about some point (important at the time to me but not now). After the meeting, he invited me to his office to talk. That was profound, he would take time to talk with me (a freshman, from a small community in upstate New York). He took an interest. He was the culture of Hampshire at that time and what an amazing culture he created (even though at the time it seemed like herding idealistic, over energized, drug crazed cats to a common place and goal). It was exciting, we created what had never been done before. He was the chief who with grace, charm, caring, warmth and understanding and a preppy look blended all the ingredients to create Hampshire College’s vision and path. He was the ideal first President.
I remember the “Solongsworth” campaign when Chuck was stepping down. I always felt he was warm, funny and very interested in helping a project. The humor of the Solongsworth fit him to a tee. But I was really taken with Polly when she came to see me in a 1973 production of “Steambath,” and came backstage afterwards to talk. She said she had seen the NY production and thought that she enjoyed our version more. Apart from her excellent taste, I appreciated the support for a very young aspiring actor. I felt great for the rest of that run.
Cheers Chuck!!!
It was an honor to follow Chuck as President of Hampshire College. The college was in good shape financially, it had superb faculty members and a strong student body.
It is a challenge to build a new college and Chuck met that challenge completely. Not only did he oversee the building on the campus which was very well designed, he hired a strong administrative team and excellent faculty members. He knew that it was important for the college’s reputation to have high admissions standards, and that made a big difference.
Perhaps most important he had excellent relations with the other four colleges, ensuring that the college complemented them and took advantage of their strenghs. Hampshire did not have to offer advanced physics, as students could take that elsewhere. But the college’s focus on interdisciplinary work was unique.
The college expected and still expects a lot from students, including the fact that every student has to write a thesis. This requires every student to decide what they are passionate about, do research, and write a careful and thorough study about it.
The record of Hampshire graduates demonstrates how special the college was and still is.
The college that Chuck built is still unique and very strong. But without his impressive leadership it would not be where it is.
Again, it was an honor to succeed him and build on all that he did.
Bear with me. In 1970 just after Hampshire started rolling, I had a tiny French Simca car. Not exactly a safe vehicle for many reasons. One of the less obvious was that the the carburetor was spring loaded to the full throttle position. The cable and another spring kept it at idle. One day driving down the hill to Rt16 the cable broke and the motor went to full throttle. After my initial surprise I took it out of gear and turned the ignition off and rolled to the shoulder. I had no clue what had happened. Chuck Longsworth was behind me and pulled over. In about 2 minutes he figured out what the issue was and asked if I had a bungee cord or some string. I found some string under the seat and he took it and tied the throttle so it was at about one third open. It allowed me to drive to a local shop that eventually fixed it for me. I was in awe. Never saw that one comming. Work with what you have …..my lesson for the day and the rest of my life. Thanks Chuck. I’ll bet he even made it to his meeting on time.
My fondest memory is when my friend, a fellow student took me to a ballroom dancing class being held on campus, and President Longsworth asked me to dance ~ it was my birthday and he was such a beautiful dancer. I still remember the “dip” at the end of the dance. He was kind and approachable and warm. I am so sorry to hear of his passing.
I’ll always appreciate the interest Chuck had in our plans to expand the Electronic Music Studio, something that Jim Wright ’73 and I worked very hard to bring about.
Chuck Longsworth was my President when I attended Hampshire. He offered regular office hours when students like myself could drop by his office and ask or tell him things. That was one of many delightful things that set Hampshire apart from its peers for me. I appreciated his willingness to listen and engage.
Chuck’s next to final year as President was my first year as a student, F76. Being the young rebel I was, I participated in the student take over of the president’s office & the “Gold Coast” in 1977 as we demanded that the College endowments divest from investments in South Africa. The memory I want to share is from much later. At the alumni gathering celebrating the 50th anniversary, I mentioned this history to Chuck. He replied that he was very proud that we had done that. That speaks volumes. I am so grateful for everything he did for Hampshire. I want to add my condolences to Polly and the family.
Chuck Longsworth was an extraordinary figure, not just as one of the founders and guiding lights of Hampshire, but as one of my Div III advisors. He was a unique man – kind, thoughtful, brilliant, and devoted to the success of the grand experiment that became Hampshire College.
I will never forget his generous offer to help, when i went to see him and ask for his assistance. He had a million other obligations, but somehow decided to invest his time, wisdom and energy in a somewhat difficult, somewhat arrogant, somewhat naive student who wanted his help. I am pretty sure it was Penina Glazer, my Div III chair, who suggested I seek his help, and I am sure she was part of getting him to do it. Chuck brought a different dimension to my development as a student and person – and i will be forever grateful for the lessons he taught – both explicitly and implicitly.
I came to Hampshire not long after Chuck had departed. It was my first job in what became a long career in philanthropy. I had Penina and Adele as models and mentors, but mostly I was expected to figure things out. Chuck taught me my first lessons in efficiency and grace from a distance. Writing to Colonial Williamsburg, I would ask Chuck for favors of his leadership—a signature on an appeal, an outreach to someone. Always I would receive the same letter back by return mail with his brief handwritten reply. “Happy to.” “Yes.” I learned later this was characteristic of Chuck—respect for the time and effort of others, willingness to do the work. I also learned that I was living in a culture Chuck had created, one that supported my growth and asked and rewarded the best of me. Adele, Penina, Sue Alexander, the alumni and alumnae I came to know, all built on that foundation. For so many of us, in small and big ways, Chuck left gifts that shaped our lives.
I have only warm and grateful memories of Chuck Longsworth, who hired me to the faculty of Hampshire College in 1971, where I taught for 48 years. In his role as President, Chuck was utterly without pretense, giving his heart and soul to the college and expecting the same from every member of the community. He never gave the impression that he was presiding over the college, but only doing his best to help everyone to thrive. His commencement addresses were predictably a highlight of the year, keenly anticipated by all. They were much like a Colbert opening monologue, at the same time acerbic and hilarious. Everyone knew they were written by his wife Polly, and he openly admitted as much. Together, they were Hampshire’s First Family and Hampshire felt like a family with them flying the kite.
Chuck’s thoughtfulness, good cheer and grace was weaved into the fabric of life at Hampshire from my earliest days. Sunday mornings at the Longsworth’s, joining him walking through campus, greeting him on his bike, and being available at those times Division III was as confounding as a Bosch painting. His influence was foundational, obviously for the college, and me as well. I’m grateful for his guiding light at that stage of my life, and for he and Polly’s impact that enriched the experiences of so many of us at Hampshire, and in our lives beyond those years. Condolences & best wishes to the Longsworth family.
As a Div II at Hampshire in the spring of 2018, I was working on an independent study to help gather research for a comprehensive Hampshire College forest stewardship plan. As a part of that project I got to interview Mr. Longsworth in his home near campus. I was very nervous and he was exceptionally kind. He walked me through the inception of Hampshire and how he went about acquiring all the acreage that Hampshire sits on and spoke about his view of Hampshire’s responsibility to ecological preservation in the region. When the interview was over he went to his kitchen counter and gifted me a wooden contraption with a metal hook on it. He told me that he made banana hangers out of oak wood he harvested from his property on the Vermont boarder. He told me that bananas ripen more evenly when they can hang as they do on a tree. Who knows. But for the last 7 years thats where my bananas go. It was a real honor to know him even for just a moment.
I came to Hampshire in the winter of 76 as a transfer student, and was walking across campus a couple weeks later when Chuck walked by and said “Hi, Davis!” I was really impressed with this skill – an administrator I had never met, who bothered to get to know all the names of the people he was in charge of. I’ve worked at a lot of colleges, and I think Chuck was as good as they get.
I joined the Hampshire family in 1971 having returned just one day earlier from Vietnam. Hampshire was very new in those days and Chuck Longsworth was the key to all that happened. My sister and brother-in-law, Kurt and Courtney Gordon both taught at Hampshire and in the Five College astronomy department. My transition to civilian life was not easy as I had been a medical service corps officer in Vietnam and had seen way too much of the results of war. I have been wounded and lost many of my men. It was faculty like Chuck Longsworth, and others who helped me with the transition. I went onto get an MBA from Columbia and retired a few years ago from what I think was a successful career.
Thanks, Chuck,
Justin Parks
I loved reading these comments by Adele, alums, admirers, and friends. Together they capture Chuck’s wonderful personality, his determination to make the College work, and his sense of humor that was crucial to making this wild and creative place thrive.
Chuck was responsible for so much of my career. When he asked me to be the first dean of faculty, I told him that I had no experience in administration. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I will teach you everything I know.” Six weeks later he announced his resignation to become the head of Colonial Williamsburg. “What? I thought you were going to teach me everything you know.” He replied, “I already did.” But there were so many things he did teach me.
One example. When students were protesting at campuses throughout the U.S., presidents were calling in police, making matters worse. When students took over the President’s office at Hampshire, Chuck sent in coffee and doughnuts. Definitely preferable to the police.
Thank you Chuck and Polly for your love of Hampshire, your support for so many of us, and your example as leaders and human beings.
Penina
Penina, I had forgotten about the coffee and doughnuts, a perfect example of Chuck’s humanity and sense of fun. We were all figuring out what it meant to be a student or in your case a dean, or in general, a college. I remember being at the first governance meeting to grapple with how Hampshire would govern itself. Everett Hafner suggested that we post an agenda, include anyone’s suggestions, state the time of a meeting, and leave the decision-making to whoever cared enough to show up. Among other things Hampshire taught me to care. I think all of these comments show how much Chuck cared and how his spirit kindled creativity.
Chuck was President when I was a Hampshire Fellow and after graduating I started the theatre department. During some student protests (forget what we were protesting) I went to see Chuck to warn him about potential seizure of buildings by some of my friends, hoping to forestall any confrontation. He listened but unfortunately wasn’t prepared to capitulate to student demands. A group of students locked themselves in the administration building the following morning. Chuck had just returned from out of town and Polly was serving him dinner when I visited him. So gracious and available, a true leader, and he was instrumental in the early success of the college.
Listening to Chuck (and Polly) regale us with tales about the root stories of Hampshire, from scouting it out to fishing so the freezer was ready to entertain donors all year, made me appreciate how much Hampshire thrived due to the heart, soul, love of fishing, and hard work that went into creating and stewarding the college through its babyhood. That he continued to show up for Hampshire was a model this former trustee holds as the way to be one of Hampshire’s “lifers” and I’m so grateful.
Chuck Longsworth embodied the spirit and the grace of Hampshire pioneers. He was welcoming, curious, passionate, yet could build bridges between traditional schools and our wonderful experiment. I was fortunate to get to know him in the early 1970s, when I covered stories as a reporter and photographer for Climax–he was ever gracious, even in tense times, as when students were occupying the Board meeting or vocally challenging his difficult decisions. I was able to express my gratitude to him years later when we sat on boards together–including boards we had challenged as students. He led the creation of a unique place and time; we’ll always be grateful for his service.
I send my heartfelt condolences to Polly and all of the Longsworth family for this great loss. As a fortunate member of Hampshire’s founding class in 1970, Chuck was a very vivid presence in my early experience and I agree wholeheartedly, as others have already said, that his personal approach to “being president” went a long way toward establishing the culture of the college. Although those of us who leaned left and toward the unconventional thought he was very “preppy” his efforts to be accessible to and involved with students (and everyone else on campus) were exceptional and ultimately appreciated even when we disagreed with him.
I remember fondly a moment in the aftermath of an incident of student high jinks when a group of us “stole” and “ransomed” a large, red, and very heavy metal sculpture that had appeared (without any community participation in the decision) on our favored frisbee lawn over Thanksgiving break in 1971. We thought we had remained anonymous, but one evening in the Dining Hall as I was standing on the balcony looking for some friends below, a pair of strong hands rested on my shoulders and held me in place so I couldn’t easily turn around to see who it was and Chuck’s very familiar voice said quietly: “We know who took the sculpture and we forgive you.”
How are you? Such fond memories of the early theatre activity on campus. Hope you are well.
Hi Tim – Sorry just seeing your message now. I didn’t notice when I posted there was the opportunity to reply. I too hold very fond memories of our early efforts to create a theater program at Hampshire. What fun we had making something out of nothing.
I am well (state of the world considered) and have been living in VT for almost 30 years. After leaving performing in the early 80s I spent most of my career as a community organizer and advocate – for the planet – which has a lot in common with theater. I also volunteer periodically with our local theater. I hope you are well too!
in 1970 I met with Hampshire’s first president, Franklin (Pat) Patterson, who sold me on his vision and offered me a position, which I accepted. When I arrived to begin teaching in Fall 1971, Hampshire’s second year of operation, Patterson had left, after apparently discovering that it was more fun to imagine a college than to actually run one. I was somewhat dismayed, even anxious, to learn that the President was now Chuck Longsworth, a former ad-man who had written the financial-planning chapters of the Making of a College. Within the year I came to recognize that Chuck had good judgment, was a good listener, had a sense of humor, and was a better writer than many faculty members. He kept a firm hand on the tiller of a vessel that was still under construction and perilously close to the shoals. When he left Hampshire for Colonial Williamsburg, I asked him how he could abandon us. He confessed that he was intrigued by the opportunity to lead an institution with a 300 million dollar endowment, and by all accounts he did a superb job. Chuck maintained his commitment to Hampshire, and over the years I looked forward to seeing him at college events. At one such event he asked how I felt about how things were going. I said I was thrilled at what we had achieved educationally but disappointed that we weren’t doing better financially. He said, “Neil, it takes 100 years to build a college.” So, Hampshire is a little over halfway there. We should draw inspiration from Chuck’s steadfast commitment and his long view.
Thank you Mr. President , for your innovative, and inspirational vision of a College that gave us students so many intellectual challenges, creative experiences and positive growth. As a student from ’72-’75, I am forever grateful for my years at Hampshire because of your energy, commitment and leadership. May you rest in peace in God’s hands.
While alas I did not meet him personally, his and your shared vision inspired me into Hampshire and continues to do so today in work and life, and going forward…
Please accept my condolences on your and your family’s great loss, and the passing of a so badly needed American visionary and manifestor…
I found Hampshire such a warm and exciting place to go to College, and this emanated from so many different parts of the school — professors, staff, students, student organizations and even funky/cute bureaucratic procedures. I always felt that Chuck Longsworth was key in setting that friendly + intellectually stimulating tone.
As I remember, it was March 31, 1972 when three of us were sleepless in a module wondering how to celebrate April Fool’s Day. Dorli Demmler, Russ Resslhuber and I were goofing on the Hampshire sign at the base of the driveway, which had been painted with colors left over from painting walls in new buildings. We thought it looked like the driveway could lead to a truck stop just as well as to a college, so we found paper and paint and decided on the wording: Chuck’s All-Nite Truck Stop ‘n College. Dorli was the calligrapher. We stayed up all night doing it, and at daybreak we rode rolling desk chairs down the hill and put up our sign. I think Ken Rosenthal drove by and saw us. A few days later there was a note from Chuck in my mailbox: “If you know who up that sign, tell her I got a kick out of it.”
Great story Kim! I’d never heard that and love hearing it now!
I use the canvas bag with the same sign on it at the grocery store every other week.
Thanks, Kim! I have the same canvas bag as Lucy. I didn’t know the reference behind the graphic and just shrugged off “Chuck’s All-Night Truck Stop” as just another tongue-in-cheek Hampshireism. It’s nice to hear the story. I didn’t know Chuck personally but we can only revere him and all the founders who had the audacity to dream up Hampshire — and then actually build it. The older I get, the more I appreciate what that took. Thanks, Chuck and Polly! Condolences to your family. Chuck will be so well-remembered by so many.
I entered Hampshire in 1972 and was on the student senate. I remember there was a discussion about some point (important at the time to me but not now). After the meeting, he invited me to his office to talk. That was profound, he would take time to talk with me (a freshman, from a small community in upstate New York). He took an interest. He was the culture of Hampshire at that time and what an amazing culture he created (even though at the time it seemed like herding idealistic, over energized, drug crazed cats to a common place and goal). It was exciting, we created what had never been done before. He was the chief who with grace, charm, caring, warmth and understanding and a preppy look blended all the ingredients to create Hampshire College’s vision and path. He was the ideal first President.
I remember the “Solongsworth” campaign when Chuck was stepping down. I always felt he was warm, funny and very interested in helping a project. The humor of the Solongsworth fit him to a tee. But I was really taken with Polly when she came to see me in a 1973 production of “Steambath,” and came backstage afterwards to talk. She said she had seen the NY production and thought that she enjoyed our version more. Apart from her excellent taste, I appreciated the support for a very young aspiring actor. I felt great for the rest of that run.
Cheers Chuck!!!
It was an honor to follow Chuck as President of Hampshire College. The college was in good shape financially, it had superb faculty members and a strong student body.
It is a challenge to build a new college and Chuck met that challenge completely. Not only did he oversee the building on the campus which was very well designed, he hired a strong administrative team and excellent faculty members. He knew that it was important for the college’s reputation to have high admissions standards, and that made a big difference.
Perhaps most important he had excellent relations with the other four colleges, ensuring that the college complemented them and took advantage of their strenghs. Hampshire did not have to offer advanced physics, as students could take that elsewhere. But the college’s focus on interdisciplinary work was unique.
The college expected and still expects a lot from students, including the fact that every student has to write a thesis. This requires every student to decide what they are passionate about, do research, and write a careful and thorough study about it.
The record of Hampshire graduates demonstrates how special the college was and still is.
The college that Chuck built is still unique and very strong. But without his impressive leadership it would not be where it is.
Again, it was an honor to succeed him and build on all that he did.
Adele Simmons
Bear with me. In 1970 just after Hampshire started rolling, I had a tiny French Simca car. Not exactly a safe vehicle for many reasons. One of the less obvious was that the the carburetor was spring loaded to the full throttle position. The cable and another spring kept it at idle. One day driving down the hill to Rt16 the cable broke and the motor went to full throttle. After my initial surprise I took it out of gear and turned the ignition off and rolled to the shoulder. I had no clue what had happened. Chuck Longsworth was behind me and pulled over. In about 2 minutes he figured out what the issue was and asked if I had a bungee cord or some string. I found some string under the seat and he took it and tied the throttle so it was at about one third open. It allowed me to drive to a local shop that eventually fixed it for me. I was in awe. Never saw that one comming. Work with what you have …..my lesson for the day and the rest of my life. Thanks Chuck. I’ll bet he even made it to his meeting on time.
I love this story, we could have called him McGiver too.
My fondest memory is when my friend, a fellow student took me to a ballroom dancing class being held on campus, and President Longsworth asked me to dance ~ it was my birthday and he was such a beautiful dancer. I still remember the “dip” at the end of the dance. He was kind and approachable and warm. I am so sorry to hear of his passing.
Hmm, we have a number of dancing Presidents, faculty and staff, maybe it should always be in the job descriptions.
I’ll always appreciate the interest Chuck had in our plans to expand the Electronic Music Studio, something that Jim Wright ’73 and I worked very hard to bring about.
Chuck Longsworth was my President when I attended Hampshire. He offered regular office hours when students like myself could drop by his office and ask or tell him things. That was one of many delightful things that set Hampshire apart from its peers for me. I appreciated his willingness to listen and engage.
So many lives touched by his vision, so much good put into the world.