2008 Woodie Awards
Founder of Cohen Center dies at age 75
Randy Booth
Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: News
Charles Hildebrandt, former Sociology professor and founder of the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies at Keene State College, died early Tuesday morning from Alzheimer's disease at the age of 75.
Hildebrandt had battled Alzheimer's disease and dementia for 10 years before his death. He was a professor at KSC from 1969 until his retirement in 1998.
"There are people who are all over this country who are touched by this man," said Tom White, coordinator of education outreach for the Cohen Center. "He's one of these gentle souls, powerfully driven for this crucial thing. A lot of us knew him and are just very touched by his legacy."
Memorial arrangements have yet to be announced.
"We are grateful for his inspiration, vision, passion and commitment to this important work," President Helen Giles-Gee said in a released statement to KSC faculty. "Dr. Hildebrandt's legacy extends from our campus to students, scholars, and colleagues across the country and the world."
Paul Vincent, a former director of the Cohen Center, knew Hildebrandt for 23 years.
"He was a man of remarkable commitment and compassion," Vincent said. "I miss him already. … He was just a very special man."
Hildebrandt founded KSC's Center for Holocaust Studies in 1983 and became the center's first director. According to White, Hildebrandt decided to try and create the center after attending the annual Scholars Conference on the Holocaust and the churches.
"He was so moved by that he came back and he wanted to create a center here," White said. "The story is that the vice president supposedly said, 'Chuck, why do that? There's so few Jews on campus.' And he said, 'This isn't a Jewish issue. It's much larger than that.'"
Hildebrandt himself wasn't Jewish, either.
"He was a man of great vision with a terrific legacy, but what's interesting is we have a Holocaust Center here founded by a non-Jew," White said. "Whose current staff is comprised of non-Jews. So the Center has a very unique place because of his vision.
"This is an issue for all of the community to grapple with. Thus we carry on his legacy to be a center, not affiliated with any Jewish organization, but trying to do the work of Chuck's legacy."
White said current KSC students know of Hildebrandt, but might not know how important he really was to the college.
"I think they are aware of his name, but I think we've got to do a better job, and we will, of putting out there what this guy was all about," White said.
There are too many good memories of Hildebrandt, White said, for him to remember just one.
"He was rock-solid and rooted in his knowledge and his purpose for his life, but in such a gentle, unassuming and powerful way," he said. "That's how I see him and will remember him."
Hildebrandt had battled Alzheimer's disease and dementia for 10 years before his death. He was a professor at KSC from 1969 until his retirement in 1998.
"There are people who are all over this country who are touched by this man," said Tom White, coordinator of education outreach for the Cohen Center. "He's one of these gentle souls, powerfully driven for this crucial thing. A lot of us knew him and are just very touched by his legacy."
Memorial arrangements have yet to be announced.
"We are grateful for his inspiration, vision, passion and commitment to this important work," President Helen Giles-Gee said in a released statement to KSC faculty. "Dr. Hildebrandt's legacy extends from our campus to students, scholars, and colleagues across the country and the world."
Paul Vincent, a former director of the Cohen Center, knew Hildebrandt for 23 years.
"He was a man of remarkable commitment and compassion," Vincent said. "I miss him already. … He was just a very special man."
Hildebrandt founded KSC's Center for Holocaust Studies in 1983 and became the center's first director. According to White, Hildebrandt decided to try and create the center after attending the annual Scholars Conference on the Holocaust and the churches.
"He was so moved by that he came back and he wanted to create a center here," White said. "The story is that the vice president supposedly said, 'Chuck, why do that? There's so few Jews on campus.' And he said, 'This isn't a Jewish issue. It's much larger than that.'"
Hildebrandt himself wasn't Jewish, either.
"He was a man of great vision with a terrific legacy, but what's interesting is we have a Holocaust Center here founded by a non-Jew," White said. "Whose current staff is comprised of non-Jews. So the Center has a very unique place because of his vision.
"This is an issue for all of the community to grapple with. Thus we carry on his legacy to be a center, not affiliated with any Jewish organization, but trying to do the work of Chuck's legacy."
White said current KSC students know of Hildebrandt, but might not know how important he really was to the college.
"I think they are aware of his name, but I think we've got to do a better job, and we will, of putting out there what this guy was all about," White said.
There are too many good memories of Hildebrandt, White said, for him to remember just one.
"He was rock-solid and rooted in his knowledge and his purpose for his life, but in such a gentle, unassuming and powerful way," he said. "That's how I see him and will remember him."
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