Coming into college, I was never aware that the president of a community with thousands of people inhabiting it, could insert themselves to be so influential. When you ask most college students about their own presidents, few can say that the president made an effort to know their name, attend several of their events, or even invite them to his or her home for a barbecue on a Wednesday night. If you ask a student from Endicott College about their president, the praise is endless.
President Wylie forever changed the name of being a president of a college.
Dr. Richard Wylie created what Endicott is today. When he became president in 1987, his hard work began and never seemed to stop. He transformed what was once a tiny two year college just for girls, to a now co-ed school now with 100 more acres of land, new facilities, the Van Loan Graduate School, and more.
Endicott College's Richard Wylie, better known as “Doc” left a lasting impact on Endicott. On Saturday May 12, 2018, Mr. Wylie passed away at age 77. Thousands of college student's lives were forever changed. However while we grieve the loss of such a terrific man, we remember the ways Doc managed to greatly change all of our lives while he was still with us in such a positive and everlasting way.
As a student of Endicott College, seeing Doc's smiling face around campus or at one of his famous barbecues never failed to make me feel at home. I remember on my accepted students day back in April of 2016, Doc made a speech to all of the eager incoming gulls and parents. He went on about what our next four years would entail. During that speech, he made an effort to mention several unique pieces from applications that the incoming class had submitted. He discussed unique talents, accomplishments, lines from recommendation letters and application essays. The list went on and on from someones resume claiming that they were a certified clown, to the large number of valedictorians that were entering our school. One of the many he mentioned happened to be a piece from a recommendation letter my high school theater teacher wrote about myself. Hearing that Doc recognized something from my one application out of thousands made the care and effort he put into this school extremely evident. From that moment on, I knew that President Wylie was not just attempting to run a college, but a loving and inclusive community.
Doc had always said, “remember the past, appreciate where we are and dream about what we can be.”– words to live by carry for the rest of our lives.
To a man who will leave a forever impact on me, as well as all of my other fellow gulls—It was a pleasure to get to know such an amazing and kind person who I could call the president of my college. Rest in the sweetest peace Doc. You will be truly missed.