Vernon R. Alden, a long time summer resident of Chilmark, died on June 22 in Boston from complications of pneumonia. He was 97.
Vernon, the son of a Protestant minister, was born on April 7, 1923, in Chicago and grew up in Moline, Ill., during the Great Depression.
The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor four months after he started at Brown University. He transferred into a Navy study plan and soon went to serve on a minesweeper in the North Pacific. He graduated from Brown and, later, from Harvard Business School.
Afterward, he went on to work in the Northwestern University admissions department. Vernon had recently arrived at Northwestern and was living in the local YMCA when he was introduced to Marion Parson. They were married in the summer of 1951 after six months of dating,
In 1960, Vernon was a young associate dean of Harvard Business School. He was approached by John Baker, his friend and the president of Ohio University, with an offer to succeed him. At the time, the school was better known for its parties than its academics and he turned down the proposal.
But a year later, after a tour of the university and cajoling by the trustees, Vernon accepted. At 38, he was the university’s youngest president in almost a century.
In 1964, Sargent Shriver, the architect of President Johnson’s war on poverty, asked him to join the task force planning the Job Corps, a part-time role that required regular commutes to the nation’s capital.
In Ohio, he became an important ally of the White House, helping persuade Gov. James A. Rhodes to support national legislation aimed at revitalizing the Appalachian region.
Vernon returned to Boston in 1969 to succeed Ralph Lowell as chairman of the Boston Company and its subsidiary bank, the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company.
He became deeply involved in Japanese relations through several groups including the Japan Society of Boston, of which he was president or chairman for over 40 years. He advised a federal commission on Japanese relations and, when Jimmy Carter was elected president in 1976, was considered for Japanese ambassador.
In business and in academia, Vernon was an expert at gently twisting arms. One of his major achievements at Ohio University was convincing a number of wealthy donors to finance an expansion of a school that traditionally had relied on public money.
He also created an honors college there, established more doctoral programs and doubled the university’s enrollment. In his last year in office, the university surprised him by naming a new library in his honor.
Vernon is predeceased by his wife, Marion Parson, who he was married to until her death of lymphoma in 1999. He is survived by his children, Robert, Anne, James and David, and eight grandchildren.
Dear Alden Family, I am very sorry for your loss. President Alden left a strong legacy at Ohio University and in Athens. His dedication to our community and university will forever be remembered.
My parents adored Dr. Alden and his beautiful wife, Marion. They were loved by the Ohio University family and all of Athens, Ohio. Our condolences to your family.
Karen & Kyle Baumholtz
Dr. Alden was a close friend of my parents when he was Ohio University’s President. He was a role many for many of us growing up–calm, professional, learned, dignified. His leadership moved Ohio U. forward, and he enabled a great deal of economic development and job creation in Southeastern Ohio while he was president. The rapid expansion of Ohio U. during this period was exciting, as was his vision for our community. As a “townie” in Athens, I admired his courage and vision. In part as a consequence of his leadership, I was inspired to become a university professor and now president of FIU–which has over 58,000 students. Dr. Alden was a fixture for me then, and his memory inspires me even today. Condolences to the family….Mark B. Rosenberg
It is with deep sadness I learn of Vern Alden’s passing, and I extend to his family my profound and heartfelt condolences.
He recruited me from private business in Southern California to Ohio University in 1967, to lead the Alumni Association, and followed with the challenge for me to direct the fund raising for the university, an emphasis he began and continued to support long after he left the University.
We remained friends and in communication through the years. Vern was very influential in my life and throughout my 30 plus year career at Ohio University. His legacies within the University will continue as long as there is a university, as they will in all areas where he lived and worked.
The nation and world lost a most remarkable man, but our memories continue and his broad influences, prevail.
Dear Alden Children and grandchildren. What a wonderful Legacy. Thank you Dr and Mrs Baker for bringing the Alden’s to town Kenny Kerr, Jr, also, 1923, was thrilled to leave Lancaster to be a Bobcat, in1941, finished the Army in 1945, Married Nada, in 1946, a brought her to Athens to live and sell beverages. The younger Kerrs were thrill to move and Shake, Town and Gown with the Bakers. Then for both men, 38, and their women to meet and make a pledge to Grow Athens and Ohio University to a very, successful, pleasing environment for us to enjoy today and beyond. My sister and I are Bobcats, as are my 2 boys/Men. The Alden’s love Athens, and Ohio University and lived to come back and check on their Babies. And we loved them and their gift of time and leadership. Here is to them and all Bobcats that have gone before us. Go Bobcats. We will carry on. The Kenny and Teri Kerr Family.
Having been friends with Vern and his late wife, Marion, for many years, I was surprised to learn from this memorial tribute to him that he was 97. Well into his last decade, his vitality and desire to live life to the fullest were that of a much younger man. In his 60’s, he used to join me for long runs around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, making me work hard to keep up. His love, knowledge and enjoyment of popular music and performing artists made him the person to consult, when buying classic recordings, and his abiding interest in Japanese art, culture, history and language were a perpetual source of fascination to those of us who aspired to visit his favorite country. Almost as passionately devoted to libraries, books and learning as to his beautiful wife and children, Vern was a staunch supporter for many years of the Associates of the Boston Public Library. Until only a few years ago, he could be seen at the Associates’ Literary Lights Dinner, its annual fundraiser for conservation and digitization of the BPL’s Special Collections. An exceptional man, who led an exceptional life, he will be missed by many, especially those of us who were lucky enough to count him as a good friend.
Thank you so much for what you had done for Ohio University and OU Libraries, Dr. Alden. We are forever indebted to you.
Vernon Alden was influential in my becoming rector of Good Shepherd, “the university parish on the campus of Ohio University” where I remained for 23 years. He was consistently kind, thoughtful, caring, faithful, and religious in the best sense over those words. A wonderful human being of character with a positive and hopeful vision. He will be missed. Condolences to his children and family.
I was a Freshman when Dr Alden was named President. He and Marion were young, energetic and gave Ohio U a special halo. 35 years later as Chair of the Foundation Board, Vern Margaret and I became friends. I was fortunate enough to meet and become friends with Jim too who would keep me current on Vern’s whereabouts. I have patterned some of my life after Vern and his teachings and energy. I will always remember him and be thankful I was able to consider him a friend. Margaret and Frank
I met Vern several times when he came back to Athens to support and promote the libraries. He had an open invitation to lunch with him in a small group during his visits, and I got to do that once, too. He was involved, inquisitive, empathetic, smart and creative. I was impressed with how up to date he stayed with libraries long after he was no longer on campus. I always looked forward to his visits.
I have many fond memories of the Alden family when they lived in Athens. Anne and I spent many hours playing in your Park Place home. We all attended Putnam and received a wonderful education from this extraordinary university affiliated school. Many years later when Vern would visit the Athens campus we would spend a little time remembering, and he always provided updates on the children and grandchildren. He was a remarkable man. Sending prayers of comfort and peace as you grieve.
Vern and Marion “”adopted” us when I arrived at Brown in the early 70’s. He was a strong supporter of me when I was dean of the college, We became even closer when I became a trustee. We spent a wonderful time at their MV home. He was a very special person, and he and Marion were role models for us as a couple.
Please accept our sincere condolences.
I had the good fortune to spend four years at Ohio University during Vern Alden’s tenure as President, and what an exciting time it was. Vern was a catalyst for Ohio’s growth in size and prestige. He was also an exceptional mentor of young people, and I am one of the beneficiaries. He recommended me to Harvard Business School and we remained in close touch throughout my career. When Joanne and I lived in Japan, Vern visited frequently. Our mutual appreciation of Japanese culture led to many enriching moments, and Vern’s introductions to innumerable luminaries such a Seiji Ozawa, Ben Makihara (Chmn of Mitsubishi Corp) and Crown Princess and now Empress Masako. Once we finally returned to the States after 31 years in Asia, Vern ensured that my ties with Ohio were nurtured and he steered me to become a Trustee of the OU Foundation. We jointly worked together to have the Fred and Kazu Harris collection of “sumi e” prints donated to the Alden Library where they will forever enrich students of Japanese art. Vern exemplifies a life well lived. His love of networking and mentoring ensured many lives were touched by his compassion and generosity. He will be greatly missed but his spirit is an inspiration that we should all strive to leave the world a better place. Vern certainly did. We extend our love and condolences to Rob, Jim, David and Anne and their extended families on the loss of such a good man.
Vernon and Marion were friends and neighbors in Brookline. They were special people who Jacqui and I always wished we had spent more time with, but enjoyed every minuted that we did, I recent years I had tried to arrange a visit with Vernon at the assisted living home where he resided, Unfortunately, something always intervened so we were never able to make it work. We deeply regret his passing. He was a lovely, caring man we were privileged to know.
Vern was also a long-time member of Digital Equipment Corp’s Board of Directors.
It was a pleasant surprise when President Alden recommended me to Harvard Business School in 1963, my senior year at Ohio University. It was the first year that HBS accepted women, all 8 of us, to the first year at HBS. What a difference my attendance at HBS has made in my life. I owe him a lot. What a great man!
As the first Director of Ohio’s Appalachia program I worked closely with Dr.Alden. Governor Rhodes appointed him as Chairman of a Regional development Council to oversee the program. He was a mentor and friend. Thank you for your service to our Country,State and for your friendship. Fair Winds and Following Seas.