Frederick C. Copeland, 95, of Oblong Road, died Friday morning, Feb. 8, 2008 at Sweetwood Retirement Community following a brief illness. Born Oct. 9, 1912 in Brunswick, Maine, son of Manton Copeland,a professor at Bowdoin College, and Ruth Winsor Ripley, he graduated from Brunswick High School in 1931 and from Williams College, class of 1935. At Williams, he served as president of the Undergraduate Council, thereby beginning a lifetime of devoted service to the college. He spent a year of study at the University of Munich in 1936, after which he returned to Harvard University, where he earned a master's degree (1937) and a doctorate (1940) in biology. In 1938, he married Caroline Emerson Day and in 1941, they moved to Hartford, Conn., where he taught at Trinity College, worked in Admissions, and became Dean of Freshmen in 1944. Also, he taught at The Hartford College for Women (currently part of The University of Hartford). In 1946, he joined the faculty of Williams College as Professor of Biology and as the college's Admission Officer. In 1973, he was named Dean of Admissions, the first person to hold the title. At Williams, he expanded the student body, reaching beyond New England schools across the country, drawing students from private and public schools, and offering increased financial aid to deserving students. In many cases, he set aside traditional formulas for acceptance and opened slots for applicants who demonstrated unique personal achievement and promise, thereby greatly enriching the student body. During the late 1960's, "he played a pivotal role in Williams' successful transition to co-education." In 1967, the Williams Alumni Society awarded him the revered Rogerson Cup, for "devoted service." In 1978, when he retired officially from Williams, it was "estimated that he had admitted 70 percent of the college's living alumni and undergraduates." In 1998, with a significant gift, a grateful and devoted alumnus established the Fred Copeland '35 Scholarship Fund, that assists "students from small towns whose positive attitude and discipline lead them to excel far beyond their circumstances." In 2005, he received the "Joseph's Coat Award," for one "held in high esteem by the College and his fellow alumni." He was president of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the New England Association of Admissions Counselors. He was a trustee of the Hotchkiss School, the Lenox School, Trinity School in New York, and Pine Cobble School, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Fleming College in Luzerne, Switzerland. In the late 70's, for two years, he was a chairman of the Williamstown Community Chest and, for many years, was president of the Mount Greylock Chapter of American Field Service (AFS).He was pre-deceased by his wife, Caroline, in 2003, and two brothers. He leaves sister, Elizabeth Van Arsdell, of Falmouth; three children, Frederick C. Copeland Jr. and his wife, Susan, of Avon, Conn., Winsor R. Copeland of Williamstown and Emily C. Leary of Duxbury; five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.FUNERAL NOTICE - A family burial service will take place Feb.20, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the Church of the Messiah, Woods Hole, Mass., where the Copeland family has summered for generations. A memorial celebration of his life will be held at Saint John's Episcopal Church, Williamstown, on March 29 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Fred Copeland '35 Scholarship Fund, Williams College Alumni Office, Williamstown, MA. The FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS West Chapels, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA 01247 is in charge of arrangements.]]>
Published in the North Adams Transcript on 2/12/2008.