Former education professor died in May
Brandon Muri
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
tudents and faculty at Hillsdale College were saddened by the loss of Professor Emeritus Jerry Fallon, who passed away on May 12. He was 87.
Fallon was born in upstate New York in 1921. Both his parents died before he graduated high school, so his two eldest sisters moved the family of 12 siblings to Tupper Lake, a city cradled in the Adirondack Mountains.
After four years as a serviceman in the United States Army during World War II, Fallon finished bachelor's and master's degrees at Michigan State University. He married his wife Sally as an undergraduate.
Next, Fallon taught communications at Notre Dame for several years, then he and Sally moved to Ann Arbor, where he pursued a PhD in education and communications at the University of Michigan.
Fallon accepted a position at Hillsdale College in 1967, where he became an inspiring figure for students and faculty alike, said Professor of Christianity and Literature John Reist.
"John was an example to me of the ideal educator," Reist said. "He exemplified to me Hillsdale's idea of the importance of a moral, as well as technical education."
Before retiring from teaching, Fallon served as the dean of students for two years and was named Professor Emeritus in 1997.
He is survived by his wife Sally and two children.
His daughter Sarah is the vice president of publications at Albion College and his son Jerome owns a dermatology practice in California.
He had eight grandchildren.
Fallon was born in upstate New York in 1921. Both his parents died before he graduated high school, so his two eldest sisters moved the family of 12 siblings to Tupper Lake, a city cradled in the Adirondack Mountains.
After four years as a serviceman in the United States Army during World War II, Fallon finished bachelor's and master's degrees at Michigan State University. He married his wife Sally as an undergraduate.
Next, Fallon taught communications at Notre Dame for several years, then he and Sally moved to Ann Arbor, where he pursued a PhD in education and communications at the University of Michigan.
Fallon accepted a position at Hillsdale College in 1967, where he became an inspiring figure for students and faculty alike, said Professor of Christianity and Literature John Reist.
"John was an example to me of the ideal educator," Reist said. "He exemplified to me Hillsdale's idea of the importance of a moral, as well as technical education."
Before retiring from teaching, Fallon served as the dean of students for two years and was named Professor Emeritus in 1997.
He is survived by his wife Sally and two children.
His daughter Sarah is the vice president of publications at Albion College and his son Jerome owns a dermatology practice in California.
He had eight grandchildren.
Be the first to comment on this story