Lewis & Clark Community Mourns Two Faculty Emeriti

Norman Dale O'Bannon, professor emeritus of economics, died January 27 of colon cancer at age 77.

O'Bannon, who taught at Lewis & Clark for 30 years, was a longtime regular at the Wednesday lunch gathering of retired faculty in the Trail Room. In fact, he kept making the weekly trek between his nearby home and Templeton Campus Center until very nearly the end of his life.

O'Bannon served three years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force before working toward his bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University. He went on to earn his master's degree at the University of Virginia and his doctorate at Tulane University. In 1966 he joined the undergraduate faculty of the college, where his teaching areas included macroeconomics, principles of economics, monetary economics, and law and economics.

With his wife, Joan, as assistant leader, O'Bannon led overseas and off-campus study programs to Peru, Egypt, Spain, South Korea, and Washington, D.C. After his retirement in 1995, the couple continued to travel widely, as O'Bannon pursued his passion for photography with photo trips to China and elsewhere.

As a volunteer for the Red Cross, O'Bannon joined a group of Portlanders who went to New York City shortly after 9/11. He also worked as an ombudsman for people in assisted living and served on the board of Friends of Tryon Creek State Park.

Survivors include his wife; sister, Martha Ann Armstrong; brother, Charlie O'Bannon; sons, Allen O'Bannon B.A. '86 and Derek O'Bannon B.A. '88, and their spouses; and a grandson.

The family asked that remembrances be in the form of donations to Lewis & Clark College.

David Savage, professor emeritus of history, died January 26 of kidney cancer at age 71.

A champion of international education, Savage led three study trips to India with his wife, Carolyn. The Savages opened their home to many generations of international students and colleagues, for whom they became American family.

After graduating from Denison University, Savage earned his Ph.D. in British history at Princeton. He first served Lewis & Clark, beginning in 1973, as associate dean of the faculty. In 1984 Savage joined the history department, where his specialty was British and South Asian history, with a focus on the British Raj in India.

Savage continued to serve the college in many ways beyond the classroom--as leader of innovations to the undergraduate general education program, as acting dean of the faculty, and as dean of arts and humanities. After his 2002 retirement, he was emeritus representative to the Planning Task Force. As President Tom Hochstettler has said, "In that sense as in many others, David's generous spirit and lively intellect will live on to benefit Lewis & Clark for generations to come."

Last fall, Dean of the College Julio de Paula announced the establishment of the David Savage Award, to be given annually to a faculty member "whose vision and sustained service have advanced the intellectual welfare of the Lewis & Clark community."

In addition to Carolyn, his wife of 49 years, Savage is survived by his sister, Jeanne McIntire; children, Sara Savage B.A. '83 and Edward "Ted" Savage B.A. '91; their spouses; four grandchildren; and nine nieces and nephews.

Contributions may be made in Savage's memory to the Mary Dimond International Student Scholarship Fund.