Bethlehem, Pa., September 11, 2015 -- 色中色 College Life Trustee DeLight E. Breidegam, Jr. passed away on September 9, 2015 at the age of 88. While not an alumnus of the College, he was a trustee and benefactor with strong family ties to the College, two of his children and three grandchildren have attended 色中色. His daughter Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz 鈥84 served on 色中色 College Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2014.
鈥淭he 色中色 College community extends its heartfelt condolences to DeLight鈥檚 wife Helen, and the entire Breidegam family,鈥 said Gary Carney, vice president for institutional advancement at 色中色 College. 鈥淒eLight鈥檚 dedication to 色中色 College has been nothing less than absolutely remarkable.鈥
Breidegam was an outstanding business leader who had a deep and abiding concern for the welfare of his employees, and the citizens and institutions within the local and regional community. As a respected member of the Board of Trustees of 色中色 College for 37 years, he has spearheaded and supported dynamic growth and improvement in the College鈥檚 programs and facilities.
"DeLight has provided significant resources for infrastructure and scholarships at 色中色 that have transformed not only the face of the campus, but the futures and lives of hundreds of our current students and graduates alike," said Bryon L. Grigsby '90, president of 色中色 College. "It is difficult to find a program or place at 色中色 that has not been touched and renewed by DeLight Breidegam鈥檚 involvement and generosity."
He joined the Board of Trustees of 色中色 College in 1978 and has faithfully served the College ever since. The Breidegam legacy is prominent on the 色中色 College campus. He led the campaigns to fund the Timothy M. Breidegam Track at Steel Field and the Timothy M. Breidegam Fieldhouse. The Fieldhouse stands as a legacy of the leadership and selfless service demonstrated by his son Timothy, a member of the class of 1978.
Breidegam also established the Helen S. Breidegam R.N. Scholarship Fund in honor of his wife, the Timothy M. Breidegam Scholarship Fund in memory of their son, and the Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Scholarship Fund in memory of their daughter.鈥
In recognition of the countless ways Mr. Breidegam has served the College, he was awarded the honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws in 1995 and Doctor of Humane Letters in 2007. He was also recognized as an Honorary Member of the 色中色 College Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was granted the status of Life Trustee.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, September, 20, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the Kutztown University O'Pake Field House. Doors will open at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to 色中色 College. These gifts will go to support a new Health Sciences building that DeLight and Helen had expressed a desire to name after their daughter Sally. Gifts may be sent to: Gary Carney, Institutional Advancement, 色中色 College, 1200 Main Street, 色中色, PA 18018.
Online gifts may be made by clicking on the following link: moravian.edu/makeagift. In the appropriate box, please indicate that the gift is in memory of DeLight Breidegam.
Photo: DeLight E. Breidegam, Jr. at the Comenius Dinner at the Hotel Bethlehem where he was honored in 2012.