“Everyone in the Marketing Department spoke so highly of his teaching ability and his dedication to the students and to Temple,” said Anthony Di Benedetto, professor of marketing.

“He was an inspiration to our faculty and students, and will be missed.”

After joining the faculty in 1964 as a marketing professor, Linneman also served Temple University in a variety of administrative roles.

From 1972 to 1975, he worked as the associate dean of The Fox School. Later, from 1985 to 1986, he was acting dean of Temple University Japan.

“As an administrator, he treated all faculty fairly and his ability to make decisions was respected.

He would always explain the pros and cons of each decision he made,” said Richard Lancioni, chair of the Marketing Department.

Linneman was a sought-after business consultant and an innovative researcher who penned one of the first books on niche marketing, Making Niche Marketing Work: How to Grow Bigger by Acting Smaller. Throughout his career, Linneman wrote more than 50 articles and five books on strategic marketing and planning.

Colleagues remarked that his greatest talent, however, was his ability to teach and connect with students. In 1976, he received a Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.

“The thing I remember most about him was his knack in getting the attention of students. He was 6'4" and would jump on students’ tables just to make a point,” said Fox School Vice Dean Rajan Chandran, who is also a professor of marketing. “And he had a booming voice that I could always hear in the hallways. One could also hear him sing in the hallways of Speakman Hall.”

Linneman was also known for bridging the gap between the classroom and the real world. “He was very interested in helping students succeed. He knew people in the business world and helped students get positions in those companies,” Lancioni said.

After Linneman retired, he continued to use his talents to contribute to the community. In the past few years, Linneman volunteered as a mentor for low-income students at Chester County Futures. “He was a very jovial person and a very generous man. He was always giving,” Chandran said.

Linneman earned a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. In 1964, he earned a doctorate in marketing from the University of Illinois.

— Written by Holly Otterbein