As a teacher and mentor, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Richard Shineman touched the lives of thousands of Oswego students. Since his passing in May of this year, he will impact generations more, thanks to his generous $100,000 bequest to the college.

“He had a very strong, committed, loyal feeling about Oswego — where it was going, what it was trying to do,” said his wife, Barbara Palmer Shineman ’65, professor emerita of education.

Professor Emeritus Dick Shineman

Dick Shineman was one of the founders of Oswego’s chemistry program and its first chair, as well as part of a cadre of professors who helped design the science facilities in Snygg Hall.

Thomas Weil ’66, one of the first class of chemistry majors, remembered Shineman as an important mentor to him. “He was a great teacher and along with Professor (Augustine) Silveira played a key role in my becoming a chemistry major and going into the field,” wrote Weil, who is a part-time chemistry professor after retiring from three decades in research and development at Amoco Chemical Corp.

Philanthropy was important to Shineman, who nonetheless insisted on anonymity during his lifetime. He would, however, acknowledge his support of the Freshman Chemistry Scholarship, with four awarded to incoming Oswego students each year. But his generosity to the college went far beyond that one program. In addition to his monetary gifts, Shineman gave of his time, serving on the Oswego College Foundation board of directors. He encouraged his brother, who was on the board of the Arkell Foundation, to consider Oswego students when it came time to award grants.

“The college was a very important part of his life,” said Barbara Shineman. “And along with it, he had this allegiance in the community to the church, the hospital and to the Rotary Club.”

With his generous bequest, Dick Shineman will share his love for the college with generations of students to come.

— Michele Reed