In Memoriam:

Christopher Scott Seifert ’97, a U.S. Army captain serving in the 101st Airborne Division in Kuwait, was one of the first American casualties of the Iraq war. He was 27.

President Rokke said: “We’re a small college and a small community, and this is going to be felt. . . . We are proud to count Chris Seifert among Moravian’s alumni, we are grateful for his service, and we are humbled by his sacrifice.”

This tribute was inscribed on a card, designed by Anne Dutlinger, assistant professor of art and chair of the Art Department, that was signed by Moravian students, faculty, and staff, and sent to Chris’s family.

He was married to another Moravian graduate, Theresa L. (Terri) Flowers ’97, and leaves a 4-month-old son, Benjamin.
Chris was an active member of the Moravian College family. He majored in history, and his advisor, Professor Robert Stinson, remembers him as quiet and respectful, a student who “always had a smile on his face.”

As a member of ROTC, he often wore his combat boots and Army fatigues to class, Bob said. “He was glad that he was in the ROTC program,” he added. “This wasn’t something that he was doing to get some money for school. He thought that it would be a good line of work.”

While at the College, Chris was a founding member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, whose current brothers wrote in an all-campus e-mail: “Although the actions of the war are thousands of miles from Bethlehem, the effects of this tragedy are felt by all. . . . Let us think about those serving our country, and the families of those abroad.”
Chris was a 26-Pointer, one of the team of campus ambassadors who take prospective students and their parents on tours of the College and answer their questions and concerns, recalls Bernard Story ’80, vice president for enrollment. Jack Ramsey, Bertha F. Cohen ’37 and Bernard L. Cohen Professor of English Language and Literature, remembers Chris as a lighting technician for theater productions and a member of the drama club.

Chris gave his community service time to Big Brothers of the Lehigh Valley. His family has requested that memorial contributions be made to this organization.

His wife, Terri, also was an engaged member of the College community, as president of United Student Government and a member of the former Alpha Epsilon Pi sorority (which became Zeta Tau Alpha while she was a student), yearbook staff, governing board of the Haupert Union Building, and senior class gift committee. She also was a resident advisor.

Because he was such an early casualty of the war, the media came to campus in force to find background for their features. Among them were: Channels 3, 6, 10, and Fox 29 (Philadelphia), Channel 69 and TV-2 (Lehigh Valley), and Channel 27 (Harrisburg). The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story; the Morning Call and Express-Times, several. USA Today quoted Bob Stinson for its story on Chris, and Newsweek mentioned him in a list of early casualties.

Besides Bob and Bernie, others who shared their memories of Chris with the media included Dennis Glew and Ros Remer of the history faculty, Bonnie Salter of the Admissions Office, and Ann Claussen, director of the HUB.

The first of the Tuesday prayer services at the Peace Pole (see below) was dedicated to Chris and a memorial bell tolled for him.

Memorial Services

George Diamond, professor and chair of the English Department, gave a memorial tribute to the late Eric Rhodin, professor emeritus of English, at the celebration of his life March 22 at Lafayette College.
Jim Tyler, adjunct professor of classics, announces a memorial service for his mother, Dorothy Tyler, professor emerita of French and German, at 3:00 p.m. April 13 (Palm Sunday), St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Allentown. Directions: 610 865-3603. Information: 610 866-8391.

Prayer Service

For the duration of combat in Iraq, the College will hold a brief moment of prayer at noon every Tuesday at the Peace Pole on the south side of Reeves Library.