Edward L. Long, Jr.'s Obituary
Edward Long, Jr. Obituary
Edward LeRoy Long, Jr., 99, of Oberlin, passed away peacefully Friday, July 21, 2023, at Kendal at Oberlin. Edward is survived by his sons Roger Long (Patsy McDonald), Charles Long (María Vázquez) and Douglas Long (Kathleen Perry); grandchildren Michael Long (Jasmine Owens), Joseph Long, Daniel Long, Diego Long, Alexandra Long, Christopher Long, and Emily Long; and great grandchild Oliver Long. He was preceded in death by his mother Helen Long (nee Pratt), his father, Edward LeRoy Long, Sr., his wife Dorothy Long (nee Whitney), and his sister Millicent Brown (nee Long). Edward was a lifelong builder – of homes and of intellectual and spiritual communities. In everything he did he demonstrated his extraordinary skill as a craftsman, a writer, a scholar, and a mentor. He was deeply devoted to the life of the mind and he used his academic and religious work to advance a version of Christianity that rejected prejudice, hatred, and violence in favor of open-mindedness, acceptance and peace. Edward was born March 3, 1924 in Saratoga Springs, NY and spent the first part of his life with his parents in nearby Schuylerville, NY. When he was a young child the family moved to Yonkers, NY where he graduated from Roosevelt High in 1942. He received a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1945, a Bachelor of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in 1948, and a PhD in Philosophy and Religion from Columbia University in 1951. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1948. His first job was teaching physics at RPI. After completion of his degrees in 1951 he a took a joint appointment as minister to students at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church and associate professor of philosophy and ethics at Virginia Tech. Shortly afterwards he became the first head of the new department of philosophy and religion at Virginia Tech. In 1957, he moved to Oberlin College with his wife Dorothy and young family. He was appointed to the rank of Professor in 1965. While at Oberlin he had a Guggenheim Fellowship that he spent writing A Survey of Christian Ethics, widely used for decades in the graduate teaching of Christian Ethics. He also spent one year as a special fellow at Harvard University Law School and had an Underwood Fellowship from the Danforth Foundation to study moral issues related to higher education. In 1976 he joined the faculty of Theological and Graduate Schools of Drew University. After an active ten years at Drew, he retired in 1986. After retirement, he continued to write and to publish (including several more books) for another thirty-seven years, having a second career longer than his combined years at Oberlin and Drew. During this time, he remained active in the social witness work of the Presbyterian Church. A prolific writer, he is the author of 16 books and more than 75 articles or chapters in leading journals or other publications. He delivered over 150 sermons, including his last delivered in April of this year at age 99. He celebrated the 75th anniversary of his ordination in May. Throughout his working life he was active in numerous professional organizations, both as a member and as an officer, including the American Academy of Religion, American Society of Christian Ethics, American Theological Society, and the Society for Values in Higher Education. Edward devoted much of his life’s work to advocacy for world peace. As a college student during World War II, he struggled with the issues of the day, eventually becoming a conscientious objector. Throughout his career, he frequently spoke and wrote on the topic of war and peace. He wrote several books addressing these issues. A true renaissance man, Edward balanced his academic pursuits with a love of working with his hands. As a child, he assisted his father and grandfather in building his parent’s cottage on Queechy Lake; he completed his first fieldstone chimney (for that cottage) at the age of 13 and went on to build many others. Shortly after his marriage to Dorothy, he started work on his beloved cottage on the hill behind his parent’s cottage on the lake. Over the years, he made many additions to that cottage as his family grew, including a secluded study further up the hill where he spent many happy summers writing. Shortly after arriving in Oberlin with Dorothy and three young sons, he built the family home on Shipherd Circle. In 2010 he moved to Kendal at Oberlin, where he quickly became deeply immersed in the intellectual, administrative, and political life of this extraordinary community. He relished his role as resident curmudgeon, a role tempered by his deep concern for Kendal community values, the quality of care, and the future relevancy of the community. He remained an integral part of this community right up to the very end, writing his last thoughts on these topics just days before his passing. A memorial service will be Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 1:30 pm at First Church in Oberlin, 106 N. Main Street, Oberlin. A reception will follow at Kendal at Oberlin, 600 Kendal Drive, Oberlin. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Residents Assistance Fund or the Staff Emergency Fund at Kendal at Oberlin at www.kao.kendal.org/donate or 600 Kendal Drive, Oberlin, OH 44074 or First Church in Oberlin at www.firstchurchoberlin.org or mailed to 106 N. Main Street Oberlin, OH 44074.Memorial ServiceFirst Church in OberlinThursday, August 24, 2023 1:30 PM 106 N. Main St.Oberlin, OH 44074
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