Ambler Campus, Temple University

Temple University, and Temple University Ambler in particular, has lost an iconic part of its history.

Dr. Eugene Udell, the first dean of the Ambler Campus after it became part of Temple, passed away. He was 92.

Dr. Udell is survived by his twin brother, Val Udell, his wife, Dr. Anita Udell, his daughter, Ruth Kunstadter, and his son, Jon Udell.

Funeral services are private. A public gathering for Dr. Udell is being planned for a later date.

“Dr. Udell made a substantial difference here at Ambler, launching the campus, dealing with a number of difficult problems, and laying a solid foundation upon which to build,” said Temple University Ambler Dean Dr. James W. Hilty. “Gene was particularly mindful of the important historical linkages between Temple and the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women and to our common goals of preserving and protecting the environment. Above all, Gene Udell was a teacher and, like most good teachers, was ever mindful of the barriers students faced in reaching their educational goals. To that end, we are grateful to Gene and to his family for their willingness to endow a gift to assist students in removing or mitigating those barriers. Gene is remembered with affection by all who knew him. His service to Temple and to Temple Ambler will also be long remembered.”

There is one thing that is most often repeated by the former deans and acting deans of Temple University Ambler — they never wanted to leave. Dr. Udell was no exception.

His connections to Temple University span decades and his love of Ambler brought him back to campus to celebrate its 40th anniversary as a campus of Temple in 2001.

Udell received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Temple in 1934 and 1938 respectively. His teaching career was interrupted in the 1940s by two years of service in the United States Navy as a pilot. He earned his Doctorate in Education from Columbia University in 1950.

It was also in 1950 that Udell began his professional association with Temple. He began as a teacher in what would become the College of Education, also founding Temple University Audiovisual Services in that period.

“Gene came to Temple University first as a student — a member of one of Joe Butterweck’s ‘X-Groups.’ In the early 50s, he was hired by Dr. Butterweck as an Instructor in the Division of Secondary Education in what was then called ‘Teachers College’ — science education and math education were his fields,” said Ruth Brooks, who retired from Temple after many years of service of her own. “I was Dr. Butterweck’s secretary at the time and got to know Gene very well. He was very well liked by students as well as other faculty. He was responsible for starting the first Audiovisual department and eventually moved out of Secondary Education to become the director of that facility.”

In 1958, Temple University began its relationship with the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women, which had been renamed Ambler Junior College. In 1961, Ambler Junior College received another name change, The Ambler Campus of Temple University, and officially became part of Temple.

Udell was asked to become the first dean of Temple University Ambler in 1963. He worked with Jonathan French, who was the president of the School of Horticulture and director of the program after it merged with Temple.

During Ambler’s anniversary celebration, Udell recalled that his first year was a literal baptism of fire.

“Within the first week, the dormitory burned to the ground,” he said. “Temple acted very quickly. They had four buildings built for the students to live in, which eventually were connected together to create Cottage Hall. A couple years later, new dorms (East and West Residence Halls) and a Dining Center were built.”

“The People’s History,” called the incident “an administrator’s nightmare — days and nights of working around the clock, cutting red tape to be sure that what had to be done would be done, enlisting help from the community, building temporary structures, renting mobile all-purpose campers and wheeling them into place on campus.”

“Despite the stress and strain, Udell and his staff survived, and instruction at Ambler began according to schedule,” the historical account states.

“It was stressful, but terribly enjoyable at times,” he said. “But soon, the students began to understand that in such a small environment, things became closer between them and faculty.”

Udell worked with Facilities Management to start the first inter-campus bus service at Ambler, a measure that greatly served students who needed to travel between Ambler and the Main Campus in Philadelphia. The schedule had one bus leaving at 7:30 a.m. and the return trip late in the afternoon. He also arranged to have a bus take students to and from the Ambler SEPTA train station.

Udell gained a reputation of working extremely well with students that did not go unrecognized at Temple.

In 1967, Udell was asked to leave Ambler and go to the Main Campus to become Vice-Provost of Student Affairs. Dealing with students at a major university in the late 1960s was not an easy job, according to Udell. What compounded matters was the fact that he did not want to leave Ambler.

“I was devastated that I had to leave,” he said. “I was having a wonderful time at Ambler.”

Udell remained Vice-Provost for about two years and then moved on to become Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs for another two years.

“After nearly five years as an administrator, I really wanted to get back to teaching. I really enjoyed doing that,” said Udell. He taught in the School of Education until his retirement from Temple University in 1985.

Our thoughts and prayers go to Dr. Udell’s family at this time our sorrow. Our great thanks go to Dr. Udell for laying the groundwork for the Temple University Ambler — his memory will always live on at Ambler.