SMU says ‘goodbye’ to retirees

By Amy Kalina and Ellen Jordan
Managing Editor and Cardinal Staff

Brother Jerome Rademacher, FSC, Ph.D.
Brother Jerome Rademacher is leaving Saint Mary’s University with a legacy that involves much more than the formulas he has taught his students.
Read more...

Brother Jerome joined the Christian Brothers in 1951 and has served at Saint Mary’s for 34 years. He taught physics at SMU and was one of the first professors to teach computer science. In addition, Brother Jerome currently serves as the chair of the physics department and is responsible for the creation of the bluff trails on campus. He started the trails by hand in 1976 along with Brother John Grover.

Brother Jerome’s post-retirement plans are to remain on the Winona campus and to continue to help in the labs and on the trails.

Drs. Pat and Mike Sommerville
As the school year ends, the SMU business department will not be losing one, but two professors. Drs. Patricia and Mike Sommerville will retire after a combined 67 years of service to Saint Mary’s and plan to move to Florida, where they will “never be cold again,” said Mike.
Read more...

Mike, who has taught at SMU for 38 years, has taught business law, criminal law and various political science classes. Pat has served SMU for 29 years, teaching accounting courses and corporate finance.

In addition to their move to Ocala, Fla., where they have purchased a home, the couple also plans to travel to the Panama Canal, China, Australia, New Zealand and Germany.

Dr. Joseph Shields
After 17 years of teaching in the math department, Dr. Joseph Shields will leave SMU and move to Texas.
Read more...

Dr. Shields joined the Saint Mary’s faculty in 1991, and over the years he has served as chair of the math department along with teaching every math class in the course catalog. Dr. Shields has also served as dean for science and math and as dean of the college and associate vice president for academic affairs from 2000 through 2005.

In addition to moving to Texas with his wife, Carol, an assistant professor in the math and science department at SMU, Dr. Shields’ post-retirement plans include golfing, scuba diving, kayaking, camping and skiing. He also hopes to travel, take educational courses and possibly even teach on an occasional basis.

Dr. Richard Kowles
After 36 years as a professor of biology at SMU, Dr. Richard Kowles will be retiring this spring, having only missed one class in his career.
Read more...

During his time at SMU, Dr. Kowles has earned $1.1 million in grants, and he was awarded the Brother Charles H. Severin Award in 1979. In 1984, Kowles was honored as the Minnesota Science Teacher of the Year, and in 1986, he was named a professor with distinction. In spite of all of his achievements, Dr. Kowles would rather be remembered for his humor. “I’m not too serious,” he said.

Dr. Kowles also recently published a memoir, “School,” which highlights his 68 consecutive years inside the classroom. After retirement, Dr. Kowles plans to devote more time to gardening, volunteering, photography, yard work, reading, attending SMU events, and publishing more books.

Dr. Dorothy Diehl, of the modern and classical languages department, and Dr. Kenneth Stenstrup, of the theology department, will be on sabbatical during the 2008 fall semester.