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Remembrances & condolences
This page has been reserved for remembrances of the late Lyle Guttu. If you have memories of Lyle that you would like to share with his friends and colleagues, or condolences for Lyle's family, please write them down and e-mail them to Wagner College Media Relations Director Lee Manchester (lee.manchester@wagner.edu). Lee will format and post your memories and condolences as they come in. For two years I had the good fortune to be a linemate of Lyle Guttu's on Harvard's varsity hockey team. Most of the time he was a streaking blur on my left side. I always admired his independence, the balance in his life, and his abiding sense of humor. In our senior year, we bet on which one of us would score more goals, with a case of Hamm's going to the winner. In the final game of the season, Lyle passed to me, and the goal that resulted gave me the Hamm's. That was typical of the unselfish Lyle. I was so fortunate to have had a long, nostalgic conversation with him just days before the accident. He was a special man with an enormous influence on so many of us. I am so grateful he was part of my life. * * * * * James Hickey ’94 wrote: As the student government president for two years, I had the distinct pleasure of working very closely with Lyle Guttu. I admired him, learned from him, valued his counsel, and despite his unassuming charm, never underestimated him. He always prevailed in that healthy clash between student leaders and college administrators. If we were ever successful in rocking the boat Lyle was sailing, he never let us know. I can vividly recall one time when Lyle phoned me in the student government office, “James, come up to my office. You have the president quite upset.” I walked to the third floor thinking we had done something to finally eclipse him. Lyle and I discussed what was troubling the president, and before we walked out of his office down to the president’s, he said, “Let’s see if we can get the president to levitate out of his seat!” He bellowed his customary chuckle and I knew we had been out-flanked again. In retrospect, I can’t say that I’m surprised. A true gift from God, Lyle was one of the most fascinating souls I have ever encountered. His intellect was keen, his style was unique, his temperament was unflappable, his example was unparalleled, his wit was priceless, his commitment to Wagner was unswerving — and ours was the honor to have known him. * * * * *
Gene Barfield '75 wrote: For more than two months it has been a struggle to organize my thoughts about Lyle Guttu enough to write them down. Lyle is a huge subject to address, and has been on my mind constantly since I heard the news of his passing. Every thought of him brought five or eight or twenty more, every recollection a huge wave of emotional response. He was -- is -- one of the most important people I have ever met, a great part of that being true because despite my own self-absorption at the time I knew him best, it was evident to anyone who cared to look how important he was -- is -- to everyone around him. Some of my classmates and I, thinking of ourselves somewhat as "privileged insiders" because we were pre-seminarians, were careful not to joke more than we thought appropriate about his funny-sounding last name when Lyle arrived at Wagner in '72. And being just a little on the snotty side as well, I suppose, some of us wondered what kind of fellow this Harvard-trained new chaplain would turn out to be, as though we had some kind of proprietary interest in the outcome. Some of us were not yet mature enough to understand that our initial hesitation to embrace the new chaplain in our midst was because of our affection and regard for the Rev. Dr. Walter E. Bock, D.D. (which "Uncle Wally" always insisted stood for "donated dignity"), who had been acting as chaplain during the lengthy search for a new one. Was this Guttu guy going to be an interloper? We were not wise enough to know that we did not have to release our affectionate embrace of Dr. Bock to embrace Lyle Guttu as well. It took Lyle about five minutes to dispel any stupid notions we might have had about him, and we didn't even know it was him who accomplished that. Everybody on campus was invited to a get-together to meet the newly appointed chaplain of the college. It was 1972, I think, so wine and cheese comes to mind (the drinking age was still 18). Most students and faculty were completely un-interested. Whether or not anybody actually thought the pre-seminarians and Religious Studies majors had a sort of obligation to attend didn't really occur to us; we simply saw the gathering as something within our realm of concern, and so we went, most of us. My first encounter with Lyle was fairly typical. I was standing around, sipping whatever it was they were serving, making idle conversation with others I knew, and the people around us flowed into and out of our little circle as they do at times like that. We didn't necessarily know everyone we ended up chatting with, but that was college -- new people, new experiences. There was one guy who came over with Henry Heil, then assistant to Wagner President Dr. Arthur O. Davidson, who joined the circle easily and brightened things up immediately with his ease, charm and, frankly, brilliance. He and Henry were making really bad sports puns, but the kind you have to know something of sports about to even barely pull off. Henry mentioned we were a bunch of pre-seminarians, hoping to attend one of the Lutheran seminaries and be ordained in the ministry of the church. The guy (he was a "guy;" he wasn't old enough to be more intimidating or distant) engaged immediately, but it wasn't like he started probing our academic histories or quizzing us on our knowledge of all things theological. He just engaged. With us. Personally, with insight, humor -- always humor -- and wise comments and welcoming questions offered in such an embracing manner that we were all taken with him. One of the deans came over and took him away. Somebody asked Henry, "Who's he?" "Lyle Guttu, the new chaplain." He had already won. Aside from being a sophomore of the emotionally immature, frightened-of-everything-and-everyone, academically fumbling, "is it really okay to drink in the dorm?" sort, it was my honor to work as a student assistant in the chaplain's office. So Lyle eased quickly into my life in a number of capacities, as the best boss a college student could want, as, of course, the chaplain to whom I turned for guidance, comfort, and inspiration as a student and an aspirant for the ministry, and as a confused kid who didn't know he needed all the help he could get and was blessed and lucky to have found the best of each in the time I spent with Lyle. He was a mentor, a comfort, a challenge, an inspiration and more, much more. In the years just before Lyle came to change Wagner College in some ways it needed to change but may not have thought itself ready for, Wagner was, despite the thorough and dedicated involvement of many students, faculty and staff in the world around us, somewhat insular in its image and outlook. For example, coming off the turbulent 1960s, Wagner as a community had not yet dealt well with the issue of racial diversity on campus. In fact, there had been "racial incidents" and there was an undertone of tension on the subject that covered the campus. There was a potential for conflict. It was not an easy time. Lyle quietly addressed that matter immediately on arriving. There were other faculty and staff who made what I think were important symbolic gestures toward racial inclusiveness to be sure, but what Lyle did, he did with an ease, a composure, a thoroughness and what I can't escape thinking was even a bit of a daring manner as he so naturally and invitingly involved himself in the concerns and affairs of the college's black student population at the time. Most everyone else sensed an invisible dividing line between the groups of black and white students on the Hill, certainly of our own making. Lyle brushed it aside and went everywhere, engaging everyone along his way, nearly always with a couple of other people in tow for whom the experience might not have been as familiar, but for whom it was a critically important step. Not to suggest or imply that any previous chaplain had failed to do so with any intent, but I believe Lyle was the first chaplain to purposefully involve groups of black students in the college's annual Christmas festivities. At that time there were wonderful traditions (which I hope have survived to this day) including a Christmas Candlelight Service in the Chapel, lighting the official campus Christmas tree in front of Cunard Hall, and President and Mrs. Davidson inviting the entire college community to walk to their home down Grymes Hill for punch, cookies Mrs. Davidson and her helpers spent weeks preparing, and caroling. In Lyle's first Christmas as chaplain it came as something of a surprise to some of us members of the College Choir to learn we were not to be the only choir singing at the Candlelight Service. We weren't really all that turf-oriented, but this was something new. Well, maybe we were a little turf-oriented after all. For after we performed something masterful, sweeping and appropriately majestic for the occasion under the leadership of our beloved Dr. Arnold Running, a group of black students stood and sang the popular Christmas song, "Silver Bells (It's Christmas Time in the City)." And it was nice. And it was new. And it was nice. Say anything you want about how shameful it might have been that as late as the early '70s, Wagner College and many of its people were still desensitized to interracial concerns in a city like New York. You'll likely be more correct than not. And that's important. What is also important is that things began to change, and as I saw it, it was because the new chaplain -- who didn't come across as a holy roller who would make some kinds of people turn away in a hurry when he was coming by -- taught so many of us how something so new for so many was, in fact, so ordinary, so right, and so possible and so necessary. There were many courageous people of different colors and ethnicities who graced Wagner College with their presence during those critical years when Wagner was becoming the welcoming institution it now is. They enriched the Wagner experience for us all, and we owe them thanks. All of them, and Lyle Guttu, integrated Wagner College. For real. Let's never forget that. Always his actions and his words, both together sustaining, encouraging, guiding us. And he had a way with both. Actions and words. Together. Connections. At an Advent service the next year, he said words in a prayer that were so powerful I can hear them, clear as a bell, all these years later. It was a very Advent occasion, and he spoke of anticipation, of hoping, of desire for renewal, and of an end to travail. "Come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly. Come for the lonely and the poor. Come for the infirm and the confused, for the cold and the tired, for the unhappy and the hungry, the forgotten and the wounded in body and in spirit. Come, Lord Jesus. Come soon. We need you." Plaintive and powerful. He spoke of every need and we knew he spoke for all of us and each of us and for everyone else in the great city in which he framed his words. He said it all. He spoke for all, time and time again. And we loved him for it. Lyle often asked me to housesit for him over vacations, and threw in a couple of bucks too. I know he knew I was homeless and had no place else to go, but that was never spoken of. He let me keep my pride, silly as it was of me to want to keep it. Then there was the day Lyle said three words and saved my life. (Yep, there's my disclosure. I am not a disinterested party where Lyle Guttu is concerned.) It may seem like a thousand years ago to some people, but I remember 1972 and the years immediately following as though they were yesterday. Like far too many other people of all ages, I had grown up thinking I was a deeply flawed human being because the sum total of the message I got from the world around me, about me, said so. That's because I knew something about myself that I hoped against all hope the rest of the world would never find out. It was a terrible burden to carry and I was convinced I had to carry it all alone. And one day I broke down. I confided in Lyle. It isn't that he was especially forthcoming on the subject; at first he compared it to having tuberculosis -- just something you had to live with. But from the moment I spoke my words to him he accepted. Simply and completely, without any conditions, qualifications or other hoo-hah. And after my disclosure his responses to me did not change, something I was terrified would be the inevitable and richly deserved consequence of my confiding my truth in him or anyone. If anything, I felt more isolated and more scared than ever before, having spoken the unspeakable. A chasm yawned before me. I knew I was at an end. A couple days later it was time, in the morning, to set up the Main Hall auditorium for chapel services, my job as the chaplain's student assistant. I wasn't even sure I should go, because I was convinced that I had changed something important between us by my seeking his counsel. Of course, when I went to his office to begin my tasks, everything seemed, well, ordinary. Okay, I thought, I can survive this hour and then run back to Towers Dorm and hide or something. I don't recall that chapel that day was in celebration of any particular church holiday or other event of note. Just chapel. And I don't remember how Lyle began his sermon, other than to say that like all his sermons it was spell-binding, to the point, pertinent and easy to digest. What I do remember is how all the alarm bells started going off as he segued into talking about inclusiveness, acceptance and other subjects whose proximity to my dark secret began to freeze my blood. He approached his penultimate, a sermonizing technique he didn't often use, and sang out a litany of different peoples, "young and old, black and white, rich and poor, Christian and Jew, city and country … ," and then paused for the most imperceptible pause. Then he said it. " … gay and straight." It truly seemed as though nobody else in Main Hall felt the earthquake. That was not something one said in the very early '70s, not from a pulpit. He didn't look at me when he said IT -- he looked at Dr. Davidson. But he said it. It had been said. Just like that. Just like he'd been reading a grocery list or a recipe. He said “gay.” It was as if I heard my name spoken for the first time after being alive twenty years without one. It was as if I was ordinary, which no one had ever before allowed me the possibility of imagining, just another regular ingredient. It was as if my ticket had been punched and I was going to be allowed on the train after all. It was as if I was just like everybody else. It was as if maybe God didn't hate me like I had been told so many times. It was still terrifying to hear those words spoken aloud. I was deathly afraid that someone, anyone, might realize that his doing so had some special significance involving me. I must have been beet red. They must have noticed, all the deans, all the administrators, all the, well, the very few students who attended chapel in those days. Did they now know? Had my cover been blown? Was I now a pariah? Had the entire globe shifted on its axis and thrown me into perpetual dark? As we left the auditorium at the conclusion of chapel, Lyle put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. Hard. That's all he ever said or did about that day. Just a simple, small connection. Just a simple small, total, complete, thunderous, stupefying connection in a place where it was thought impossible. Just a connection. I began to abandon despair and joined the human race. There was another time when he and I spoke while I was working in his office. I must have seemed tired or distracted, because he was especially solicitous at that time. I mentioned how I had learned that a conservative Christian student group on campus was saying special prayers for me because they were sure I was damned. I mentioned how it hurt, because I thought I had a pretty good idea of what it was they were specifically praying for, which was not something to be looked forward to. Then the hand again. It clamped on my shoulder and he leaned over me and said, "I've heard they're praying for me, too." That horrible night when a nursing student was murdered on campus stands out in my mind. It happened shortly after the Dining Hall closed, on the path to Harborview. I found out when I was walking back to the dorm from the Wag office and saw Charlie Lebeda and Alan Bergmann scrubbing blood from the sidewalk. I ran to Lyle's front door. He already knew. He was already in motion, and asked me to get the chaplain's office and the chapel open and ready, then to bring all the hymnals down to Gatehouse Lounge. He and I called all the faculty members who were ordained ministers and asked them to come to campus. He called Dr. Davidson who broke down in tears and in shock. This was before they invented crisis counseling. We had Lyle. Students, even non-resident students started gathering and gravitating toward Gatehouse Lounge as it became apparent that something was to be said, something was to be done there. God knows we needed it -- and lucky for us, so did the chaplain of the college. And everywhere, Lyle. Everywhere. I don't know even now how he could have done that. He just did. Lyle Robert Guttu became chaplain of Wagner College at a time when the college was struggling with its own identity. Was it still a Lutheran college? Was that no longer the case, as it had long been? Was there a bona fide role for a chaplain at Wagner College, and if so, what? How? For whom? To whom? Lyle began to give his answer in 1972 to those profound questions, and I believe he gave it in a way that will resonate powerfully for the rest of the life of all those of us who were blessed to have known him there, and likely for the life of Wagner College itself. He made a role, not by being chaplain as had been done before, but just by being the profoundly inspiring, deeply comforting and accepting person he was among us at Wagner. Acting from his beliefs, experience and faith, he answered the “how” by living a life among and before us that helped us find better means and ways to live our lives at Wagner and beyond. For whom, to whom? Well, he made that the easiest part. Just everyone. Everyone. If I thought for a minute that the things he did for me were somehow special and unique to me perhaps I would not think as lovingly and respectfully of him as I do. I know he did as much and more for others, so many others. Aloud or silently, openly or behind the scenes, as a one-shot-deal or over sustained periods of time he did for so many people so much that it can only be repaid by a lifetime dedicated to doing so. There were times when certain people wondered what kind of Christian minister he is to so freely make space for everyone, even the wicked, even the most lost, the most depraved, the most distant and the most fallen. I couldn't possibly describe in theological detail what specific kind of Christian he was. We never really talked about that. I never felt the need. I saw. He was, second perhaps only to my beloved grandfather, the most Christlike person I've ever known. I love you, Lyle, and thanks so much. I will always remember. * * * * * The Rev. Bud Myers wrote: My family and I only had the privilege of meeting Lyle one time, last summer when my daughter Mimi was on campus for a tour. We had a wonderful chat together in the coffee shop — in fact, I think we closed it down for the afternoon. Our chat continued as Lyle walked us to our car. Lyle and I shared so many common acquaintances, both being Lutheran pastors. I had looked forward to visiting with him again when we were on campus for Mimi's interview. When I learned of his tragic death, I was deeply moved; I certainly can appreciate the grief that has struck many in the Wagner Community. Lyle was a man of compassion, diversity, and breadth of knowledge. I am sure that he will be missed by everyone he touched. * * * * * Amalia Vagts, development director for Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, wrote: To the family of Lyle Guttu, I just received news of Lyle’s death via Jeannine Janson from the ONE VOICE campaign and Lutherans Concerned/North America. While I had never met Pastor Guttu, I have met Allison at the last two Churchwide Assemblies. I don’t expect you would remember me, Allison, but at both assemblies like so many others I have been deeply struck by your perseverance in speaking out on issue of justice, especially justice for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the Lutheran Church. I just sent a note about you to your father a week or two ago, thanking him for his involvement with the ONE VOICE campaign. I am so deeply sorry for this terribly sad loss and with to express thoughts and prayers to all of you on behalf of myself and the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries community. * * * * * Clare Reed ’91 MBA’94 wrote: A moment before I opened up the email delivering such sad news I knew instinctively it was about Lyle Guttu and that he was no longer physically walking among us. There are certain people in this world who you hope will always be there during your journey through life; Lyle is one of them. Lyle displayed an enormous amount of compassion, fairness, and thoughtful, far-seeing judgment. I had the honor of learning from Lyle while working as an assistant resident director in one of the dormitories. There were a number of lessons I learned from him, some direct and some that just took a little longer to understand. One of the lessons that took a fair amount of time to realize was how he handled a student disciplinary action. He made the decision to give this student a second chance without permanently affecting his future. I can honestly say most anyone — myself included — at the time would not have made a decision with the amount of depth that Lyle displayed to this one student. He understood the mistakes of youth, the never-ending potential of a person’s goodness, and the need to guide on all sides. He knew not all decisions had to be cut-and-dry, but that sometimes following a different path ends up being the right decision. I thank Lyle for that lesson, as it has made me a better, more thoughtful, less judgmental person. So I leave my thought to share with anyone who reads these tributes. But walk away from this with a picture of a quiet summer campus at dusk with a few chairs scattered outside Kairos House, and sitting are Lyle and his friends deep in discussion, with periodic bursts of laughter. It is a picture that always comes to mind when I think of Wagner, because in my mind Wagner and Lyle were as one. My condolences. * * * * * Professor Laura Morowitz wrote: I have two memories of wise, funny, kind Lyle to share: In September of 1998, we were all grief-stricken by the untimely death of Richard Gaffney, beloved chair of the Art Department. As we filed into the memorial service, there was a real sense of unreality and disbelief. The service began and we heard, from the podium, a long, low “Ssshhittt”: Lyle’s perfect rendition of Richard’s Southern drawl. Beginning the service that way, Lyle captured the irreverence, humor and character of Richard and brought him back to life for us for a second. I had certainly never heard a rabbi, or any priest, use words like that in a eulogy before! My admiration for Lyle began in earnest at that point, and it only grew and grew from there. A second reminiscence: One morning a few years ago, I got a call in my office from Lyle. “I have your black trench coat. You left it in the 4th floor conference room,” he said. The jacket had no label or identification of any sort. “But Lyle, how did you know it was mine?” “Well I tried it on,” he said. “When I realized how tight it was on me, I just knew it had to be yours.” * * * * * Barbara and Charles Klein wrote: Barbara is the older niece of Ada Arfsten, who was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Church in Brooklyn and whose grandfather, Adolph Schnakenberg, was one of the founding members. We met Lyle through Ada and were fortunate to have had several meetings with him prior to his conducting Ada’s funeral service in 1998. We were definitely enriched by knowing him, and we appreciate very much the friendship and caring he offered Aunt Ada. We remember meeting several family members at her service and the luncheon afterwards, and we send heartfelt condolences to all. Ada kept us up-to-date on Allisons and Matt’s lives, and we are glad to read of your continuing successes and progress. Would that Lyle’s life had been longer, but we are certainly grateful for the time he had and the good he did. We share in your loss. * * * * * Terry Karamanos, vice president for advancement from 2003 to 2007, wrote: Lyle had a special gift of being able to bridge generations of students, staff, alumni and faculty. He was a one-of-a-kind individual who was very caring and compassionate to all who had the good fortune to know him and work with him. You could never just pop into his office and ask a quick question; you knew that to engage with Lyle was to engage on all matters, large and small, all in the same conversation. * * * * * Jerome Harris, a former Holy Redeemer parishioner and Harvard ’73, wrote: There is little that I can add to Lyle’s story, except for a personal reminiscence. I grew up in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn, a working-class ghetto then and now (predominantly African American then; now increasingly Hispanic). During the social and political tumult of the mid- to late 1960s — my middle-school and high-school years — I found my way to various after-school and summertime activities that the Church of the Holy Redeemer hosted under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Guttu. His church became the base for a small band of youth and community workers trying to help the neighborhood survive that wrenching era of violent street crime, civil rights campaigning, police brutality, “white flight,” revolutionary rhetoric, “urban renewal,” “war on poverty,” and such. Lyle’s commitment to social justice and attention to the spiritual well-being of parishioners, staffers, volunteers, families and the wider community was manifest in active personal engagement during the week, not only in Sunday morning services. He did it with vigor, perspective, and abundant good humor — not a small accomplishment (given the race- and class-based distrust, competing agendas, rank opportunism and outright chaos of that place and time). That accomplishment was a sign of Lyle’s deep faith and moral vision. Lyle wrote a letter of recommendation for my application to Harvard, and it was his suggestion that moved me to attend my 25th alumni reunion. I am but one of many people who have benefited from his presence in their lives. He will indeed be missed. * * * * * Professor Roger Wesby wrote: “Roger!” he’d say, my name borne on a light chuckle, “Lyle Guttu … ” Thus began innumerable phone conversations I had with our late and much beloved chaplain. Perhaps he did this with everyone, or maybe just for me, knowing that I was probably obsessing over one insignificant matter or another and needed that humanizing laughter to settle me down and move me into conversation mode. If you clicked on the Wagner Web site and saw the photo, that’s me, standing right behind Lyle. On reflection, much of what I have done here in the last 12 years was just that. How many services did we plan together? Baccalaureates, Interfaith services, All Saints Day, the Inauguration, 9/11 observances, Memorial Services at Reunion, and Lutheran Heritage Month. The conversations were at least partly about the business at hand, although they nearly always devolved into discussions of myriad topics, often going on for an hour. The calls usually ended with “Alright,” also delivered with a chuckle. Lyle was a man of great depth and gifted with tremendous wit (read the autobiographical squibs he dispatched to Harvard for three delectable samples ). He was a good speaker, a delightful conversationalist, a fine cook and a friend to thousands. He was open-minded and an avid reader. Lyle could try the patience of those who sought snap decisions or easy, formulaic, doctrinal answers. Like a seasoned rabbi, he was often more interested in the question than the answer du jour. He would run interference between opposite points of view to lessen friction and foment a more thoughtful and nuanced discussion. If there was no “other side,” he could happily take it. I don’t think I ever saw Lyle in a hurry. He was never “beside himself” — he was always fully his very particular self. In these days since his death, I have spoken with many friends and colleagues about him. One of the most frequent observations is, “He was a presence.” Lyle was a sort of local weather system; he brought balm, humanity, kindness and humor wherever he went. Our faculty is largely “secular” at this point, and Lyle was not about to start thumping heads with 100-pound reference editions of the Bible. He won the respect of everyone on the faculty because he was open-minded, urbane, well-read, thoughtful, considerate and wise. Lyle, however, was not secular. He could minister in the deepest sense of that word. Those of us who attended Mildred Nelson’s funeral, or heard him speak on Luther, or saw him in countless other situations will remember the comfort and enlightenment he could bring. Lyle was a spiritual man and he lived out his spirituality daily, the fruit of which was often laughter, or that quieter, deeper joy that one feels when bright people say smart things, or when a profound insight is gently imparted. He was a patient, tolerant, decent person. He was the ideal companion with whom to share a gin and tonic on a sunny, summer Saturday afternoon, sitting on the lawn of his cottage. It wasn’t only the sports teams that he supported; Lyle came to nearly every concert our choirs have given in the last 12 years. He helped many of our singers when they got into financial and academic trouble. He supplemented the airfare of some needy choir members — from his own pocket, I suspect. His affection, patience, humor and wisdom have given comfort and guidance to presidents, provosts, registrars, professors, students and staff, and emotional, rumpled old choir directors alike. Wagner College will no doubt hire new people to do some of the things that Lyle did, but no one will ever replace him, nor will anyone even be able to measure all of the things that he did to make our community more human, more tolerant, more civil and good-humored. We are all diminished by the loss of anyone from our community, but this loss, this tragic loss, is one from which we may never really recover. Wagner will forever be different without Lyle Guttu. * * * * *
Walter Miller, Wagner Union director 1973-77, wrote: On Monday the 17th as I started the day, a former student I worked with at Wagner sent an e-mail which I opened. The passing of Lyle was a shock as 6 days prior, Lyle and I shared an email to re-connect after 30 years. We both were committed to re-connecting upon a return trip to the New York/New Jersey area during this upcoming summer. I worked with him in Students Affairs. I cannot forget the late afternoon “meetings” on the front porch. He has impacted many students and staffs lives at Wagner and he will be missed. Lyle made Wagner a better place. * * * * * Lynn E. (Scheel) van Sickler ’75 wrote: I was a student at Wagner from Sept. 1971 to my graduation in May 1975. I had the pleasure of knowing Rev. Guttu as the school's young and vibrant chaplain, and I must say he did not have white hair when I was there. I don't have any specific memories —it has been over 30 years since I graduated — but I remember him as always being cheerful and with a smile, and that is the memory that I will always carry of him. I send my deepest and heartfelt sympathies to you: his family, friends, co-workers, congregation, and to the staff and student body of Wagner. I regret that I cannot be there in person to attend the memorial service; we are still recovering from the worst ice storm in Oklahoma history. My thoughts and prayers will be with you. * * * * * David Norman ’09 wrote: Reverend Lyle Guttu was truly a servant of G-d; he showed compassion, love, and kindness for all people. I was touched by his unqualified support for all religious groups — Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, or any others. Jewish teachings tell me that we are all created b'tzelem elohim — in G-d's image. In Lyle Guttu, we saw a vision of kedushah — holiness. May his name always be for a blessing. * * * * * Frank Balsamo, a Wagner parent, wrote: I had only spoken to Lyle a couple of times recently with regard to a housing issue for my son Anthony. I found Lyle to be easy to communicate with, and I immediately found that he was a good listener, since I needed a spokesperson to represent me . Lyle was a gifted individual, and even though I never met him personally, I felt a deep remorse at his passing. It never fails that bad things happen to good people. I will pray that God takes care of Lyle the way Lyle took care of so many of us. He will be missed. * * * * * Bill Loweth, Nichols School alumnus, wrote: I played hockey for Coach Guttu at Nichols School in Buffalo 40 years ago. I am saddened by his death and send my condolences to his family and friends. Lyle was a wonderful man to young boys who loved hockey. A gifted player and a kind, gentle man, he taught us so much about the game of hockey — and, more importantly, about how to live one’s life. He had a gentleness to him that was both evident and unique. He looked you in the eye and you knew he really cared about you and what you had to say. I lost touch with him when he left Nichols School, but feel he found the perfect calling for his life. I am certain he touched many lives in a positive way. * * * * * Professor Anne Hurley wrote: I, too, was devastated by Lyle's sudden death and am grateful that Wagner created this forum so that faculty and others who are not on campus can share our grief and extend our condolences to Lyle's family. The one word I associate with Lyle is genuine “kindness.” That quality emanated from his being in an absolutely essential fashion. I did not know Lyle well as an individual, but I was and am deeply grateful for the presence of kindness that he brought to our campus. He made kindness uniquely his: from the thoughtful respect that he accorded to every member of our community; to the quality of listening that he brought to our individual needs; to the generous hospitality that he extended in opening his house to both conviviality and caring; to the carefully crafted invocations at faculty meetings, an art form that was specifically his and that can never be duplicated. He gave us affection, and this forum offers us the opportunity to return ours to him. We extend to his family our deepest sympathy and our gratitude for sharing Lyle's life with us. * * * * * Lenunianee B.N. Johnson, an alumnus, wrote: My dear Rev. Lyle Guttu, You were one of the finest men I interacted with during my days as a student of Wagner College, between 1981 and 1983. You were the dean of students. You exhibited an impressive humility all through the period of my sojourn in that college. Your simplicity was a challenge to many folks who had not the fear of God. May God grant your family the fortitude to bear the loss. You served mankind and above all, the Almighty God, who has deemed it necessary to call you home now. Go and rest in the bosom of the Lord. Since you had looked for Christ, He shall appear unto you the second time without sin unto salvation. (Paraphrase, Hebrews 9:28) Adieu! * * * * * Professor Jebah Baum wrote: Far away as I am now, it is hard for me to comprehend the loss of my good friend Lyle. Two weeks ago, he took me to the airport, and as we unloaded my two heavy crates from the back of his car and attempted to surmise what in fact they actually weighed, he impressed me with his vigor by lifting first one and then the other. He was quite chagrined a few days later when I e-mailed and informed him how he had underestimated his own strength and that they were in fact both over the weight limit. In wishing me an easy time of it, his heart apparently fooled his body. I’m sure that he would have seen an analogy in this to the human condition. It’s the sort of thing that would have interested him. I saw Lyle often this fall, enjoying his wonderful hospitality and excellent conversation. He made time for me, and I am so thankful that I had the time to be there with him and the others who often stopped by. I regret that I can’t be there with you all to say goodbye tomorrow, but I will be thinking of him, as I have every day since I got the shocking news. I will stop by the great cathedral here in Lund and light a candle for my friend. Here, a stone’s throw away from his Norwegian roots, I will recall Lyle’s presence and kind heart, his warmth and intelligence and generosity. * * * * * Rev. Scott J. Maxwell-Doherty wrote: We extend our deepest sympathies to you at this time of mourning and grief. Long-term ministries reveal consistency, faithfulness and commitment, which makes Lyle's death even more difficult for a community that has known him and has been loved by him. As you move into this journey of loss and celebration of his life and ministry, may you sense the comfort and presence of God, whose claim on Lyle knows no bounds. Please know that your sadness is felt at California Lutheran University. God's grace and peace be with you. [Scott Maxwell-Doherty is university pastor at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California.] * * * * * Ted Mangione ’74 M’76 and Patricia Reilly ’77 wrote: Like the many friends who have written before us here, we are so very saddened to learn this tragic news. Lyle was a newcomer to campus when we were there in the mid-1970s. He was dean of students during that time, and we initially had the opportunity to know him from working on campus through the summer months. It was quiet then, and we had a unique group. Through these last 35 years, it is difficult to imagine just how many lives he has touched, how many young minds he has guided, how many futures he has helped to forge, how many times he happened upon just the right words needed to dry a tear or comfort a nervous student or resolve a situation that appeared to have no easy means of being remedied. Truly, he was a man with Gifts. I last saw Lyle at a reception about a year ago, and we talked and reminisced and laughed a lot. He remembered when we helped him move into the former IFC house and how we all painted and built bookshelves in the sunporch and moved boxes. I drove home that evening with a smile in my heart about a long-forgotten 30-year-old memory. That was Lyle. A man with many Gifts — and the extraordinary ability to share them. * * * * * Bill and Louise Cobham, Holy Redeemer parishioners, wrote: Pastor Lyle Guttu was one of the greatest in anything that he wanted to do. I remember when he first came to the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Brooklyn–East New York. "Father Goose" or "Pastor Goose" was how our young people addressed him. He was loved by a whole community. The story of Lyle's brainchild, "Operation Give A Damn," has never been written. The year was 1968; Dr. King had just be killed, and New York City was about to become a war zone. We were having our weekly Lenten meetings, and we all heard the little white radio in Pastor Guttu's office say that Dr. King had been shot. I remember Lyle saying a prayer right at our table. While he was praying the voice on the radio said that Dr. Martin Luther King was dead. All of us kids were crying; most of us were just numb! That's when Pastor Guttu said, "What are we going to do about Dr. King's Dream?" Well, the rest is history! The youth of Holy Redeemer were going to make sure that Dr. King's Dream did not die with him. "Operation Give A Damn" was born. Pastor Guttu, Steve Marston, Rev.Tom Boomershine, and Bill Cobham, the leader of a band called The Arbitrations, sweated out the script. We had a mixed cast and a mixed band, something that wasn't done back in 1968. Our mobile theater performed on "both sides of the tracks." If it were not for "Pastor Lyle Guttu" and the youth of Holy Redeemer Church, Brooklyn, New York would have been a lot "hotter" that spring and summer of 1968! It was an honor to have known Pastor Guttu. He was a regular fixture around my dinner table. He loved my mother's peas and rice with chicken. Lastly, as a historical note: Pastor Guttu and his Holy Redeemer Church were the first to use brass during the Lutheran Service. The year was 1966. God Bless you, Lyle, and your family. * * * * * Patricia E. Martin ’75 wrote: It was a shock to hear today of Lyle’s passing. My mom, Mary Martin, worked with Lyle in the 1970s when he was in the Dean of Students office. Today she was reading the New York Times and saw his obituary and called me at work (we live in Oregon now). I knew Lyle well, too, as a high school student, and then as a Wagnerian. He introduced me to the field of student affairs and got me engaged in some very early work on interracial concerns sponsored by the Lutheran church in the early 1970s. He meant a lot to me as a mentor and a spiritual figure. All of the Martins — Mary Ellen Martin, secretary in the Dean of Students office from the 1960s to the 1980s, Pat Martin Sawicki ’75 and Ray Martin ’76 — mourn his passing, as does my dad Ray Martin, an honorary Wagnerian. [Pat Martin is the dean of student success at Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, Oregon.] * * * * * Susan Rosenberg, Coordinator of Graduate Studies, wrote: I am very saddened by Lyle's untimely passing. He was truly a charismatic man; I always enjoyed speaking with and listening to him. Two summers ago, I lost my 92 year old mother and best friend. Lyle never knew my mom, so I was very touched when he arrived at Matthew Funeral Parlor for her memorial service. As he gave me a comforting hug, he assured me he would add her name to his list of souls to pray for. I learned today that my son, a 2006 graduate, witnessed the accident last Saturday and called 911. Not knowing it was Lyle, he remained by Lyle’s side until the police arrived, and said a prayer for him. How ironic is our circle of life? I wish to send my condolences to his family and assure them that Lyle will be in my prayers as well. * * * * * Michael A. Armato ’06 wrote: The Book of Proverbs says, “Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names.” Rev. Guttu was one of those people that you were never quite sure what exactly his job description really entailed, but you knew that the place would be in trouble without him. It has always been my experience that people like Rev. Guttu did everything that no one else could be trusted to do, no one else knew how to do, and maybe even no one else wanted to do. It would be impossible for any of us, even those who worked closest with him, to quantify his contributions to this institution, our “Beautiful Upon The Hill.” To Rev. Guttu, Wagner wasn’t a job — it was a ministry. That is what made the difference. Wagner was such a huge part of his life, because he loved it. He loved the Wagner family, and they loved him return. Wagner will never be the same; but his family and those who will miss him should be thankful for having met him and known him. We should be thankful for his contributions to the Wagner family, and take solace in the fact that the Divine One has found a place for him by his side. As Proverbs says, “death cannot kill [his] name.” May our mission for many years to come be to remember that wonderful, brilliant, caring and loving man; and tell those who come after us about his life, about his work, and about his love. * * * * * Ryan Brown ’07 wrote: It was with great sadness that I heard the news about Rev. Guttu. I was able to attend many programs at Wagner in which Rev. Guttu shared inspirational stories and words. He always presented himself in a positive manner and knew how to use the correct words at the right time. My thoughts and prayers go out to Rev. Guttu's family during this tragic time. May God continue to bless you and allow his love to provide comfort and strength. * * * * * Professor Miles Groth wrote:
With the loss of Lyle Guttu, the spirit of Wagner College at its best has passed on, perhaps lost to us from here on out. Lyle maintained our now easily forgotten deep Lutheran roots — sometimes, it seemed, single-handedly. In our little community of scholars, his presence prayed that we would always recall and affirm the priority of values over policies and ideologies, collegiality over temporary associations and dissociations, reflection and reticence over noisy pronouncements, an authentic ecumenism over fashions of diversity, our common humanity over now much-touted differences, the lasting impact of ministering over administering. Lyle modeled the real power of kindness and the quiet word over brash, facile judgment, critical care for “the things themselves” over canniness and the management of people. Lyle saw and savored each of us, one at a time. He modeled the difference between dignity and arrogance, wit and a sense of humor and the facile, opportunistic enthusiasm of public relations rhetoric. In his invocations that began meetings of the Committee of the Whole, Wagner’s faculty, Lyle taught us and reminded us again and again the appreciation of the lives of our associates. He was proud of us. He was our memory. Lyle also understood, as he once reminded me, that “students know!” — explaining in his measured way that listening to what students have to say must be our highest court of appeal when we have become too confident about our innovative programs, our effectiveness as teachers, the ambience we have created for the only reason we are here — the students who are temporarily in our care. Lyle had that now rare patience of watchful waiting rather than rushing to judge. He knew it was not important — perhaps even harmful — to have to have the last word. He did not conclude. Instead, Lyle opened the way with a bit of silence and a question, the always needed pause to reconsider what is really at issue. This was his deepest consideration for each of us. * * * * * Victoria Bobik, former Director of Marketing & Publications, wrote:
I had to write because of the effect Lyle had on my life by doing nothing more extrordinary than being the person that he was. That, in itself, was extraordinary. I was heart-broken to hear on Monday of Lyle's death. During my ten years at Wagner College he was a source of comfort to me, of stability, of utter kindness and compassion. He was one of those rare individuals who gave comfort and reassurance just by being in his presence — that is extraordinary. There are not many constants in life, but in my time at Wagner, he was one: constantly available — heart and soul — to those around him. I will miss knowing that he is here, but I will always have his brightness with me. * * * * *
Elaine Schenck, Wagner College’s Catholic chaplain, wrote: “Be patient; do not lose heart.” (James 5) Lyle believed in the Resurrection of Jesus, and in his own resurrection. He looked forward to the day when he would be received into the company of his Eternal Father and all the saints in glory. That day came early Sunday morning, the third Sunday of Advent, traditionally called “Gaudete” Sunday. “Gaudete” means “Rejoice!” If I could choose a time to die—which none of us can do—perhaps I would choose this beautiful season of waiting that we call Advent. It is a season of hope and of preparation, when we are reminded of what is eternal. I never knew Lyle to do anything quickly. He took time to reflect, which helped me to practice patience. For this I am grateful. But this experience also leads me to reflect on the need for a Christian to be a sign of contradiction in this century of instant communication, instant information, the seemingly endless possibilities for instantaneous gratification; a century in which we are hard-pressed to appreciate the value of patience. It is very easy to obtain things we want that in themselves are not of the greatest value. There is one truly great value for which we must wait not only patiently but creatively: Our eternal destiny. To wait creatively, to be patient, is to prepare ourselves interiorly for our final encounter with our Heavenly Father. Our waiting cannot be passive—that is what leads to the frustration of impatience. Nor should we attempt to fill up waiting with empty pastimes. How can you fill such a deep hole with what is empty? The whole idea of waiting implies an emptiness, a hopeful emptiness, a rich and inviting opening in our soul. For the Lord cannot make His dwelling amidst the clutter of passing, trivial desires and thoughts. He asks us to make room for Him, patiently, expectantly, emptying ourselves of what indisposes us to His coming. For our dear brother, Lyle, the waiting is over. He’s gone home. We who remain are still on our way. Let us learn the virtue of creative, loving patience: in our conversations with one another, in our thoughts, in our actions. Let us make room for goodness to grow and overflow our souls. As we grow in patience, awaiting the fulfillment of the promise of our Baptism, may our hearts grow strong and deep. May our souls grow in the capacity to hold our Father, who has received our brother Lyle, so that we may receive this same Father and bring Him to one another. * * * * *
Bruce Anderson wrote: I was out of the office all day yesterday and only just now returned to my e-mail queue and discovered the surprising and very sad word that Lyle “has crossed over Jordan,” a safe way to acknowledge that our friend and colleague had died. At a conference of church relations directors, Lyle heard me say that my pastoral ministry began in a small community near Thief River Falls, his hometown. When one reads his obituary, “Red Lake Falls” and “Thief River Falls” would have little meaning to his many, many friends in New York, Harvard, and especially at Wagner College. But I have been in those towns, and Lyle and I warmed to each other when he later told me about his youth. I am quite certain he attended Harvard on a hockey scholarship. He said once that a mentor in Thief River Falls told him not to go to Harvard because if he did, he would never return to Thief River Falls. Lyle followed the script and did not return. That choice was very good for him, and for all of us who knew him. It is quite a challenge to picture this peaceful, gentle, reflective, patient and hospitable man violently checking an opponent off the puck! The above is simply to gratefully acknowledge that this wandering pilgrim met another soul who was far from home, liked him immediately, and shared company with him on all too rare occasions. From those rare times I received great blessings, and I am thankful to Lyle and his Savior for all. Rest eternal grant him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him. (Rev. Bruce E. Anderson is director of the Office of Church Relations at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.) * * * * * Kelly Byrd ’08 wrote: I first met Reverend Guttu when he gave his “Ghost Tour” of Wagner Campus for WAGCAB last fall. I stayed after to thank him for his time, and we chatted for an hour about our lives and the history of the campus. I told him that I was going to study abroad the following semester in England and he told me his favourite city in Europe was Berlin. His words about his family and love for the college during that conversation stuck with me, and the first thing I did when I got to Berlin was send him a postcard. His family is in my thoughts during this time and I ask that they remember what a wonderful man he was and that they know how much they meant to him. He spoke very fondly of all of you and I'm sure you know how much you were loved. * * * * *
Harry A. Volz ’51 wrote: We are stunned by your notice about the tragic death of Lyle Guttu. We have advised our pastor and the congregation at St. David’s Lutheran Church in Massapequa Park, a number of my classmates, former pastors at St. David’s, and other Wagner graduates in this area. Our personal prayers are with Lyle’s nuclear family as well as with his Wagner family. Please extend our sympathy, and thank God for the promise of Jesus Christ. This is a sad day for all of us. * * * * *
Rev. Dennis C. Asp wrote: The sudden loss of a valued colleague and friend is indeed tragic. I’m sure the entire Capital University family joins me in sharing sincere condolences with his immediate family and with the greater Wagner College family as well. A child once said to me that death at this time of the year is “cool,” because now that person gets to go to Jesus’ birthday party. Knowing Lyle’s devotion to his Lord and to his Church, I’m sure he will celebrate Christmas this year like never before! May we all be comforted by the hope, the promise and the assurance that comes with the birth of Christ. My guess is that would be Lyle’s prayer as well. — Rev. Dennis C. Asp is the director of church relations at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio * * * * * Angela Kahres ’07 wrote: Reverend Guttu (or “The Rev,” as my friends and I affectionately called him) was a huge part of my life at Wagner. I vividly remember the fateful day at the very beginning of my first semester of college when my friend Becca Scuderi dragged me, an extremely shy freshman, to meet the school’s chaplain. Reverend Guttu immediately put me at ease, and from that day on I went to see him at least once a semester to chat. He cared so much about the quality of the Wagner experience for students, and he always wanted a report on the classes I was taking, how challenging/enjoyable they were, and what I’d change about them. In addition to our casual chats, Becca and I also looked to him for guidance as we tried to reinstate a chapter of Lutheran Student Movement at Wagner. He was extremely helpful and encouraging, even going so far as to invite our small group to his home for a Christian Seder meal. Rev. Guttu loved getting to know students, and he even knew my boyfriend by name, even though Justin wasn’t a Wagner student! His generosity, friendliness, and capacity to care knew no bounds, and I am deeply grieved by this loss. * * * * * Larry Ambrosino ’69 wrote: Lyle Guttu was one of the finest, most honest, legitimately inspirational people I have ever met. Wagner was blessed by his presence, as were all of us who came in contact with him. He will be missed by us all. * * * * * Carl Westerdahl ’59 wrote: Very strong feelings of shock and sadness came over me when I learned of Lyle’s death. I always enjoyed seeing him on the campus as we talked over coffee about everything from Wagner’s history and future to Harvard hockey. What a great loss for the college! To me he represented the best of what remains of the spiritually focused Wagner of our college days. We have lost a role model for what it means to be a liberally educated Christian. He was the repository of the college’s history during the latter part of the 20th century. How sad those who write that history will not have his wise perspective. We last talked about planning the Class of 1959’s memorial service in 2009. It will be difficult to conduct that service without his council and appropriate words. * * * * * Bruce Liozzi ’64, president of the National Alumni Association, wrote: To Allison and Mathias: I'm sure that this will be one of many messages that you will get extolling your father's many gifts, but I want to express on behalf of Delta Nu fraternity our deepest sympathy and our extreme sorrow at his passing. Your dad was inducted into the fraternity as an honorary brother, and he loved being a part of our group. He was always available to say a prayer,tell a joke — usually at our expense — and be "the God Guy," as I called him, at every one of our functions. Personally, I considered your dad a very close friend. He was a wonderful person who was loving, caring, and so able to make people comfortable in his presence. The world will be a little darker without him, but hopefully his spirit will continue to watch over us and help us through this very difficult time. * * * * * John Miller ’97 wrote: I am writing this with great sadness on hearing the news of the passing of Rev. Lyle Guttu. He has meant a great deal to me in my life. I am one of the graduates of the Wagner/LTSP program sponsored jointly by Wagner College and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. I am also a graduate of Wagner class of ‘97. I want the collage community to know they have lost a powerful witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a student I learned much about giving back to society from Rev. Guttu. The many hours we spent in conversation about the world in which we live helped prepare me for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I am ever so grateful for his love and mentorship. However, all is not lost for, you see, all of us who knew him in his journey here on earth can recall the many memories of what he meant to each of us. Remember, it is not how he died that matters, but how he lived. May Christ peace be with all of you as we remember his passing. * * * * * Mary Ann Carnaggio, an alumni mother, wrote: What can you say about a man who truly lived his vocation? Rev. Guttu was a true man of God, filled with love and compassion for all who crossed his path. My children, Joey and Cara, are both graduates of Wagner College — but only through the intercession of Rev. Guttu. As so often happens in life, things aren’t as you planned. When Joey was a senior, Cara was beginning her freshman year, both full of promise and hope for what appeared to be beautiful futures. Then, financial disaster struck; it truly felt like the end of the world because, as a parent, I was forced to come to terms with the fact that my children would not be able to fulfill their dreams of graduating from Wagner. For them, when the time came, there wasn’t any other choice than Wagner; it was the college they wanted to go to and graduate from “when they grew up.” Rev. Guttu welcomed my son, daughter and I into his open arms, so to speak; he interceded on their behalf and was able to secure scholarships for them so that they could continue their educations. With his love and guidance and compassion, we were able to see the sun again; things weren’t so bad, and both graduated. How do you thank a man who has given you your future? It has been a few years now, but I have always prayed for and thanked God for having allowed us to cross paths with this most extraordinary man. The world certainly is a sadder, more somber place for having lost him so early, but he will always live on in the hearts of those he has touched during his very beautiful life. His was truly a life worth celebrating. * * * * * Mary Ellen (Phillips) O’Connell ’75 wrote: I had the privilege of working with Rev. Guttu on a campuswide community charity event. I no longer recall what this annual event was called or how I came to be the chair for the event, though I know it was held in the gym and benefited local groups. I do, however, have fond memories of working closely with Rev. Guttu to pull off this event. He was incredibly supportive and kind and made the work feel so worthwhile. In the small way he touched my heart, I can imagine how genuinely he must have influenced many hearts in his years at Wagner. My sincere sympathies to his family in their sorrow. * * * * * Marie Mann-Oliveras ’77 wrote: Lyle Guttu was the dean of students when I was at Wagner, and one of my earliest mentors. He always had time to talk, advise, and be there when we were all going through our transformation into young adulthood. I have such fond memories of him. He was loved and respected by so many people, and I can only imagine how many lives he has impacted since I left Wagner over 30 years ago! Please extend my deepest condolences to his family. This is such a tragic way to leave this earth — but we all know he is in a better place. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. * * * * * Finette Lerman Russak ’78 wrote: As a freshman in the fall of 1974, I felt very out of place as a “minority.” I had been encouraged to attend “ecumenical” services during Chapel Hour, only to find out that “ecumenical” really meant “interdenominational for Christians.” Alas, I was one of a scant few Jewish students then on campus and, as such, felt quite uncomfortable with prayers and services that were so obviously Christian. I expressed my dismay to Dr. Walter Kanzler, one of my advisers (who later became my colleague and friend), and he went along with me to speak with Rev. Guttu. After listening patiently and offering little in words (I found him to always be such a quiet, gentle man), I went back to my heavy class schedule. Well, imagine my surprise when, a few weeks later, I was again at services (after some strong encouragement by Dr. Kanzler) to hear a more “Jewish-friendly” service. I later found out that Rev. Guttu had indeed taken my comments to heart, and whenever he spotted a few of us non-Christians in the seats, he adjusted services as best he could. Then, a few years later as a very young instructor, I was privileged to teach at Wagner and ran into Rev. Guttu on campus. He not only remembered me (and, honestly, I had attended maybe 10 or 12 services in my entire 4 years), but he informed me of the changes he was still making to ensure that students of ALL denominations, especially non-Christians of all faiths, felt comfortable and welcome at “chapel time” and on campus. His success can be seen in the wide range of backgrounds and faiths represented today on campus as part of the Wagner Family! I will always remember him fondly as the quiet, kind man who took the time to not only hear a young woman’s thoughts, but to listen to them and ensure that she and future students felt a part of Wagner’s family. * * * * * Tommie McNeely, parishioner at the Church of the Holy Redeemer, wrote: I met Lyle when he was the pastor at Holy Redeemer in Brooklyn. He was just like another family member to all of us. He was affectionately nicknamed “Goose” by those of us who knew and loved him back in the day. I recall that he was quite fond of our mother’s cooking. When Mama passed in 2004, we asked Goose to come back to Holy Redeemer to conduct the service. He never gave it a second thought; he just put everything on hold and came. Although my heart is saddened by this tragic loss, I can smile because I had the honor and privilege of knowing this special person in this life. Much love and many blessings to the family; many thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. * * * * * Professor Chien Liu wrote: I am shocked by the sad news. I am out of town and unable to attend the service. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Guttu’s family. * * * * * Kimberlea Karper ’09, president of Wagner Hillel, and her mother We are intensely saddened and shocked by the untimely passing of our dear Lyle Guttu. He was like a protective grandpa on campus and completed the Wagner family circle. His kind and gentle ways will be keenly missed. He will be remembered admiringly. * * * * * George Boyer ’73 M’75 wrote: I have just learned of Rev./Dean Lyle’s passing. For all of us who had the pleasure of being in his presence as a student or colleague, he was a humanitarian model. Many a night in the 1970s, he opened his doors for us to visit, chat, laugh, cry, vent or just be there as a mentor/friend. Through those years as a newlywed and young father, he still found the time to share his worldly perspective in some very difficult times. Lyle was that beacon of light that so many seek, but few see. Those formative years at Wagner were enriched beyond measure by having the joy of Lyle’s guidance. How ironic that of the many fond memories of Lyle, one of my earlier ones was the candlelight Christmas service. Now, in this time of Advent, Lyle has transitioned, but his light and spirit live on. We are all so thankful that our journeys crossed Lyle’s path through life. * * * * * Ann (Beck) Goodman ’74 M’76 wrote: My husband (Larry ‘77), brothers and sister (Al ‘68, Paul and Helen), and I are so saddened to hear about Lyle’s death. He has always meant so much to the Beck family. We, as well as others who came in touch with him, were affected in so many different ways. He was a minister to people and lived his ministry every moment, on campus and off. I remember the time when I met Lyle for the first time, he asked me my name and he said, “Hey, your dad ordained me!” So, that was a personal connection that he, Helen, and I shared which brought us great comfort on campus. Lyle had a wonderful gift of bringing students together, yet each of us always felt special. He always had time to talk, and he recognized when we needed someone to listen; somehow, whatever the issues were, we always left his office inspired and laughing. His desire to make us feel at home on campus was unending and non-invasive. Looking back, he was a kid at heart. Personally, knowing Lyle while I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life was like having a slice of home away from home for support; but at the same time, he wasn’t my parents, so at that time in my life, that was a good thing and important. He made me feel like an adult. My husband, siblings and I send our love and prayers to Mathias and Allison, June, and his siblings, Carol, Mavis, Elmer and George. May God’s love comfort you at this very difficult time. * * * * *
Greta Davis ’65 wrote: My condolences to Rev. Guttu's family and the Wagner College community that he served. * * * * * Doris Karp ’96 wrote: My thoughts and prayers are with his family. * * * * * Marilyn (Rudolph) Madsen ’67 wrote: I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. My husband was hit by a car 10 years ago, so I know what his family is going through. My husband survived, but he didn't walk for a year. Please give them my sympathy. * * * * * Diane Borst Manning ’59 M’62 & Norm Berg wrote: So sad about Lyle. He was truly an icon at the college. Please express our very deepest sympathy to the college and to Lyle's family. * * * * * Ann (Barbarino) Christensen ’64 M’73 wrote: I am saddened by the news that Lyle was killed in an automobile accident. Warren and I ran into him recently at one of Wagner's plays, and he was his cheerful self, considering the next phase of his life. I have known him from his affiliation with Wagner, of course, and we were both members of the Eger board for years. He will be missed. * * * * * Sal Cowan ’95 wrote: My heart goes out to the Wagner family, and to Lyle’s. He will be missed. * * * * * Billy Tyler ’80 wrote: I was sorry to hear about Rev. Guttu's passing. I remember him as a young man with his children living on campus. * * * * * Roz Noonan ’80 wrote: I graduated from Wagner in 1980 and thus there are few names of people on staff that still ring a bell for me. However, Lyle Guttu is a man I will always remember. When I was in my sophomore year, my parents divorced and my college funding dried up. I was in a meeting with Dean Guttu regarding other matters when I mentioned that I would regretfully be leaving Wagner. He intervened in a big way and helped me patch together a package of student loans, scholarships and campus jobs that helped me finish my studies — and a very wonderful college experience — at Wagner. Lyle Guttu was a man who wasn't afraid to go out on a limb to change the world in a very positive way, and I will always be grateful that he was a part of the Wagner community. Please tell his family how sorry I am. He's rocking the heavens now. * * * * * Stanley Knull ’50 wrote: Shocked! Appreciated Lyle's understanding of human condition and his long and very effective service as chaplain at Wagner. My prayers will be added to many for the support of his children and all who will mourn this incomprehensible loss. * * * * * Betsy Press ’58 wrote: Oh, mein Gott, I can barely write through the tears, though I didn't know him well. * * * * * Joan Brown, an alumna, wrote: Very sad to hear. We'll pray for the family. * * * * * Bob Piegari ’71 M’79 wrote: Very sad to hear that. * * * * * Malual Manyok Deng Duot, an alum, wrote:
It is very sad that I will be traveling to Wagner not to see Rev. Lyle Guttu anymore. When I was at Wagner College, Pastor Lyle treated me with total care like his own son, and I did considered him to be my guide father. My last time of seeing him was in October 2007 when I came to visit him after my graduation in Class of 2006. I am still in deep sorrow with no hope of no longer talking with kindly Lyle. My condolences to lovely loss one. May God almighty receive his soul and keep him at his right hand where good people are resting. I will be traveling to Staten Island to attend the funeral planned and in order to pay my respect to him and his family. * * * * * Jim Requa ’73 wrote: Rev. Guttu began his career at Wagner during my junior year. He was always articulate, energetic and helpful. My son Jason (2005) also developed a great relationship with Lyle and always appreciated his dignified and classy approach to assisting him with his questions and concerns. He was always a great representative of the college and did much to contribute to its highly regarded reputation. Please share my sincere condolences with his family. * * * * * Mike Kelly ’66 M’72 wrote: What a terrible tragic loss for everyone who has known Lyle in any fashion. * * * * * Walter Baumhoff ’59 wrote: I have just logged on and am devastated by the news of Lyle's death. What a tragic end to such a productive and meaningful life. I know the staff and the entire college community are devastated. As I look at messages coming in, I can further sense the impact of Lyle’s passing on alumni and friends of the college. I hope that the memorial services will coincide with my travel plans to the East Coast. * * * * * Michael Hoffman ’94 wrote: It is with the heaviest of hearts that I received your correspondence about the untimely death of Rev. Guttu. The impact Rev. Guttu has had on the Wagner community — as a role model, a positive influence and a spiritual leader — cannot be adequately defined. He was a cornerstone of the Wagner community, and I hold myself very lucky and very blessed to have enjoyed the benefit of his counsel and friendship during my time at the school. The loss we all suffer cannot be qualified, and only slightly mitigated by the secure knowledge that he is most worthy of the seat at the hand of G-d I am sure he has assumed. Please extend my heartfelt condolences to the reverend’s family, with the extension to them of the traditional Jewish blessing to mourners: מקן 
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