Former JMU dean dies
Whitman retired from emeritus position last year
Posted on November 16, 2006

Richard F. Whitman, dean emeritus of the College of Arts and Letters, died at his Harrisonburg residence Saturday. He was 65.

In 1987, Whitman came to JMU from the University of Ohio, after having taught there since 1971. Whitman took the position of provost of the College of Arts and Letters of JMU, and later became the dean. He was also a professor emeritus of communication studies, a position that he retired from last year. Whitman still maintained a close tie with the university through fund-raising efforts for the future Performing Arts Center, scheduled for completion in 2009.

In his tenure at JMU, Whitman oversaw major restructuring of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, which then became the College of Communication and Arts during the 1994-’95 academic year.

George Johnson, department head of the school of media arts and design, worked under Whitman for 16 years until he retired in 2004 for health reasons. He said Whitman handled the restructuring very well.

“To oversee that task and to make that work was an incredible, time consuming process,” Johnson said. “He was very good at getting the two groups of department heads to work together.”

Whitman was the first recipient of JMU’s Dolley Madison Award, for promoting equitable and harmonious relations in 1994. That year he was also awarded the Outstanding Educator Award Dakota Wesleyan University. Whitman earned his first Ph.D from the University of Nebraska. He also held degrees from South Dakota State University and Dakota Wesleyan University.

“He demanded excellence,” Johnson said. “I’ll miss him greatly. He was a very nice guy to work for.”

Whitman is survived by his wife Denise Anne Kinzley Whitman; his two daughters Andrea W. Ray of Harrisonburg and Alyson W. Manoukian of Upper Arlington, Ohio; and four grandchildren. A memorial service was held Tuesday afternoon.

— from staff reports