Norman P. Auburn, 98, former Union College acting president, died July 21, 2003, after a short illness.
Born in Cincinnati, Dr. Auburn was a 1927
graduate of the University of Cincinnati. For five years, he was
a manager and editor in the construction trades before returning to the
University in 1933 to begin a career in higher education. He edited the alumni
magazine and directed the alumni association before appointment to the evening
college, where he was a dean and professor. In 1943, he was
appointed vice president, dean of administration, and secretary of the
UC Board of Trustees.
In 1951, he was named
president of the University of Akron. During his 20 years,
he oversaw the creation of four colleges, the law school, and several doctoral
programs; guided the university's fiscal base from the city to state; and aided
in its growth as an internationally known institution. He is
considered among the university's founders.
In 1971, Dr. Auburn was named
president emeritus and consultant to the University of Akron. As senior vice
president of the Academy for Educational Development until 1989, he was acting
president of a number of colleges, including Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1978.
In 1963, he served as director of First Federal
Savings & Loan of Akron and of First National
Bank of Akron. He oversaw the merger of First Federal
with Charter One Financial in 1988, and at his death, he was director emeritus
of Charter One Bank.
Dr. Auburn also served as a trustee for Lane
Theological Seminary and the University of Dayton, and as the president of
the Herman Muehlstein Foundation of New York City from 1965 until 2002.
The University of Akron will hold a memorial
service.