Former Calvin Prof Passes Away

August 14 , 2006 == MEDIA ADVISORY

A former Calvin College professor passed away on August 8 in Sun City,
Arizona.

Donald H. Bouma, 88, was both a graduate of the college and taught at Calvin
from 1946 to 1960, during which time he was instrumental in establishing the
Calvin sociology department all the while serving as the new department's
chair!

Today Calvin continues to honor his contributions to the college with an annual
Bouma Lecture, sponsored by the sociology and social work department. That
lecture honors the memory of a man who not only made a mark at Calvin during his
14-year tenure, but also made a mark in his work away from his alma mater.

Born February 9, 1918 in Grand Rapids, Bouma earned a B.A. from Calvin, then an
M.A. from the University of Michigan and finally a Ph.D in sociology and
anthropology from Michigan State University.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 (on a mine-sweeper in the
Pacific!) and then began a long career in academia that included not only his
time at Calvin, but also an almost 25-year career in sociology at Western
Michigan University.

He was the author of Dynamics of School Integration in 1958 and Kids and Cops:
A Problem of Mutual Hostility in 1969, and also authored over 50 monographs and
articles in professional journals. From 1974 to 1984 he was an associate editor
of USA Today magazine, and for over 20 years was a writer for the Grand Rapids
Press.

Bouma was extremely active in the West Michigan community prior to retiring to
Arizona in 1984. Among his many involvements were the Kent County Juvenile
Court, Bethany Christian Services, the Grand Rapids Board of Education, the
Urban League and numerous others.

Calvin colleagues note that his career was marked by a commitment to
contemporary social issues and human needs.

See http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2005_06/donald-bouma.htm

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Received on Mon Aug 14 16:04:13 2006