Foster Diebold

April 1, 2018

Nu 1971 – 1972

October 24, 1932 – April 1, 2018

Foster Frank Diebold, a true American Academic – professor and former President of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, passed away on April 1, 2018, Easter Sunday, following a brief illness, while living in Key Colony Beach, Florida.

Foster was born in Orange, New Jersey, on October 24, 1932. He was educated in the schools of New Jersey and held degrees from Monmouth, Seton Hall and Rutgers Universities. He also studied at the University of Pittsburgh, ABD in Ethics in Higher Education; he enlisted in the United States Air Force at age 18, and was trained as an electronics technician, eventually becoming a part of the Judicial and Disciplinary force.

Diebold began his career as an English teacher and athletic coach with the New Jersey Public School System. Employed by Newark State University (now Kean University), he quickly rose through administrative posts to become the Director of Development.

Given the opportunity to become a member of the Board of Regents team at the University of Alaska, he and wife Patricia moved to Fairbanks, Alaska and he began work there. He was selected to become President of the Alaska System of Higher Education, where he led the university system to its prosperity and growth.

Desiring to return to the lower 48, he was selected as the thirteenth President of the then Edinboro State College in 1979, and was at its helm when Edinboro University became part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education when the system was established in 1983. He was credited with boosting the school’s enrollment to record levels. Under his leadership, buildings and grounds were upgraded on the Edinboro campus, academic links with institutions in China and Pakistan were established, and the university received national recognition for programs for persons with disabilities. He guided the transition of the college to university status in 1983 and saw to its growth, which included the State System of Higher Education’s first capital campaign. His belief that students with disabilities are entitled to have the same opportunities as other students, Diebold initiated Edinboro’s commitment to students with disabilities and expanded the university’s international student program. It was also during Diebold’s tenure that in 1986 an Erie businessman, Lou Porreco gifted to the university with his 26-acre property in Millcreek Township, later becoming The Porreco Center of Edinboro University.

He was a leading and guiding influence as the State System of Higher Education took shape. Because of his studies in the field of ethics, his reputation was that of a leader who led with integrity and moral purpose.

The former president additionally oversaw the school’s transition in athletics from NAIA to NCAA Division II status, and he was credited with helping the wrestling program elevate to Division I status. During Diebold’s tenure, Edinboro athletic teams won four national championships and 33 Pennsylvania state athletic conference titles.

Following his retirement from Edinboro, he was awarded the title of President Emeritus. He served for a time as counselor to the newly developed School of Islamic Studies in Leesburg, Virginia, and as a consultant to numerous other institutions and schools.

Of the many honors received by Diebold over his career at Edinboro, he especially valued his appointment to the Edinboro Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 and the renaming of the former Student Union building on the campus, The Diebold Center for the Performing Arts, due to his unparalleled contributions. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctoral degree from the country of Pakistan at the University of Sind for his considerable work in the improvement of their system of higher education throughout that country.

He will be dearly missed by his wife of 44 years, Patricia Elizabeth Diebold, daughter Jessica Hope, DVM and her husband Nicholas Lewis, daughter Annastasia Slade, M.Ed. and her husband Jon Ryan, sons Wesley Roger and Christopher, Foster II, and precious grandchildren Lyra Foster and Grayson Fisher Lewis, Foster Elizabeth and Finley Quinn Ryan and Foster III.

Final memorials and services are private and will be determined by the family. Contributions will be accepted to the Foster F. Diebold Scholarship fund at Edinboro University, Reeder Hall, 219 Meadville St. Edinboro, PA 16412.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to those who have reached out with such loving gestures. Your acts of kindness remind us that Foster truly did impact the hearts and minds of many. The love of family, friends and God’s strength will continue to provide us comfort and peace. ~ The Diebold Family

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