on campus - Article - Manhattan College

Thomas E. Chambers, retired dean of general studies
Thomas E. Chambers, dean of general
studies at Manhattan College from 1970
to 1988, died on Friday, October 21,
2005. He was 84.
Chambers joined the College in 1965
as associate professor of marketing and
director of the evening division and
summer school, positions he held until his
appointment as dean. Prior to Manhattan,
he was assistant dean in the school of
business at St. John’s University.
Under his leadership as dean of general
studies, a school that was established
for nontraditional students, Chambers
developed what was called the Equitable
Life Midtown Center. The Center was
instituted to cater to adult students who
carried full-time jobs. Additionally, he
created a validation program for underprepared
high school students with college
potential, the cooperative program with
Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in which
the College provided academic courses
for the associate degree in nursing from
Presbyterian Hospital and the criminal
justice program, and established the
radiological and health sciences program
at the College. Most of these programs
have since been absorbed into the current
five schools at the College.
A former vice chairman, region III, for
the Association for Continuing Higher
Education, Chambers was the recipient
of the Alpha Project Grant, an adult
leadership program for minorities in the
1969 Daniel M. Horan, 7/8/05
Sister Rose McGrale, 8/26/05
1970 Ronald V. Conti, 10/9/05
Raul E. Infante, 5/3/01
Thomas G. Whitesell, 10/21/05
1971 Thomas Josephson, 10/30/02
James A. Meade, 11/18/03
1972 Brother Bernard F. Beleto,
9/13/05
1973 Harold M. Pasternak, 5/10/05
James Surrago, 4/25/03
South Bronx. The grant was funded for
three years, and Manhattan was one of
only seven educational institutions in
New York at the time to receive the award
under the Higher Education Act of 1969.
He held memberships in academic honor
societies such as Delta Mu Delta, Alpha
Sigma Lambda, Pi Sigma Epsilon and
Alpha Kappa Psi.
Before launching a career in higher
education, the Brooklyn native served in
World War II as a lieutenant in the U.S.
Navy. He was a man of many interests
and hobbies, including music, gardening,
painting and carpentry. A talented artist,
Chambers even has had one of his
paintings displayed in the Merchant
Marine Academy Museum. Aside from his
numerous talents, he was consistently
dedicated to his students and to
promoting education.
Of all things, Chambers was first a
teacher, says daughter Joan Chambers.
“He was a vivacious, energetic and
animated speaker who encouraged his
students to question,” she says. “He
could refer you to a book on most every
subject that he had already read.”
His daughter fondly remembers going
to work with Chambers as a child and
that he made her feel important by
including her and her siblings in his
professional life. He wanted to show
them that work could also be fun.
1974 Regina D. Rieth, 9/14/05
Michael E. Vacek, 11/26/05
1977 Dr. Francis J. Colace, 5/1/05
Anthony V. Sarni, 3/12/05
1978 Grace Hirsh, 7/16/05
1981 Cecilia Moran Hayes, 7/18/05
1983 Aileen Reynolds, 9/9/05
He was a man “very committed to his
job and the responsibility of providing
for his family,” says Joan, who is one of
six children. “Manhattan College was a
place he loved and felt comfortable about
who he was and what he was doing.”
Chambers, who moved to Florida after
retiring from the College in 1986, received
his M.B.A. from New York University in
1959. He also held bachelor’s degrees
in business administration from St. John’s
University and in marine science from
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Chambers
carried a professional mates license
from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Chambers’ wife, Katherine, predeceased
him. He is survived by six children and
12 grandchildren.
manhattan.edu
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