TO: UNI Faculty and Staff Members
FROM: School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services Faculty and Staff
DATE: April 19, 1993
In Memoriam: Lyle E. Schwarzenbach
Dr. Lyle E. Schwarzenbach, 48, a longtime loyal and energetic faculty member at the University of Northern Iowa and true friend of education and athletics at UNI and throughout the state of Iowa, died Friday, April 16, 1993, in a plane crash near Denver, Colorado. Lyle, an associate professor of physical education in the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services, was completing his 24th year on the faculty at UNI.
Dr. Schwarzenbach was born July 26, 1944, in Lake Park, Iowa. He graduated with a B A. degree in Physical Education/Business Education Minor from the University of Northern in 1967. His master's degree in Physical Education/Educational Administration was also earned at UNI in 1968. Dr. Schwarzenbach earned a Doctor of Education degree with a major in Physical Education/Educational Administration at the University of Wyoming in 1975.
Lyle's allegiance to UNI dates back to 1962 and his years as an excellent student-athlete participating on championship SCI/UNI basketball teams. Dr. Schwarzenbach joined the faculty of the University of Northern Iowa as an Instructor of Physical Education and Director of the University's Leisure Service/Campus Recreation programs in 1969. Lyle leaves a highly respected professional legacy of outstanding teaching and exemplary service to the University of Northern Iowa and beyond. Highlighting his career are his teaching and advising, his unselfish service to UNI, and his outreach service to school districts throughout Iowa and the nation; each framed in an "old-school" mentality of loyalty and energetic commitment to education, to the University of Northern Iowa, and to the university family he loved dearly.
Lyle's dedication, uncompromised integrity, and enthusiasm for his students was demonstrated daily in the classroom, but sparkled in the special one-on-one assistance and motivation that he so caringly provided to UNI's undergraduate and graduate students. Iowa school districts are staffed by literally hundreds of physical educators, health educators, athletic directors, principals, and superintendents who have been influenced by the caring, competent, and enthusiastic approach to teaching and education inspired and modeled by Lyle Schwarzenbach.
Dr. Schwarzenbach's loyalty, strong-willed leadership, and unselfish service to the university was unmatched. A close friend and colleague from the School of Business reflected that Lyle "did everything the university asked him to do and more." It was not in his nature to turn down a request from his university. Fortunately, Lyle was blessed with a level of energy that was also unmatched.
Perhaps because he was so keenly aware of the university's strengths--as well as never being blind to her weaknesses--Lyle was regularly asked to provide leadership for projects of special significance to the university. He was currently Co-Chair of the campus component of the $25 million UNI Capital Campaign and a member of the Presidential Scholar's Committee among other assignments. Additionally, in recent years, he served as a committee member or consultant on 22 university strategic planning projects, a member of the University General Education Committee, and Chair of the UNI Athletic Director Search Committee.
Dr. Schwarzenbach's professional outreach service included numerous workshops on physical education and athletic program administration delivered throughout Iowa and the nation; active involvement as an Advisory Board Member and consultant in motor skills rehabilitation for the National Head Injury Foundation; and program planning, curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation consulting services for 118 schools and institutions in a dozen states and three foreign countries.
The highlights of Lyle's professional life have been outlined above. But Lyle's professional life was only a part of the impact he had on the university, the community, the state, and even nationally and internationally. All who had contact with him were given the opportunity to call him their friend.
Degrees and "station in life" didn't mean much to Lyle. He enjoyed the friendship of a wide range of people and accepted them for what they were in the tradition of people from rural Iowa. Whether he was consulting in Northeast Iowa, in Kentucky, or Iran, he made friends for himself, while he never ceased to promote the interests and image of the University of Northern Iowa. Lyle always considered it his privilege and pleasure to promote UNI.
Lyle was a strong supporter of the Cedar Falls community. He was an active leader of the Cedar Falls High School Booster Club and always a visible presence at school athletic functions at both CF High and Northern University High School. His interest in youth extended to his active participation in Nazareth Lutheran Church's Christian education activities.
Dr. Lyle Schwarzenbach is survived by his wife Arlene Kaye (Rients) Schwarzenbach, Cedar Falls; one daughter, Tami Hanson, Cedar Falls; one son, Todd Alan Schwarzenbach, at the U. S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; two brothers, Everett Schwarzenbach, Jr., of Egg Harbor, New Jersey, and Dan Schwarzenbach of Bristol, Conn.; two sisters, Paula Kain of Belmond, and Pauline Branstetter of Chandler, Arizona; and two grandsons, Jeff and Michael Hanson, Cedar Falls.