A memorial service was held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 21 at the Knowles Memorial Chapel. We recorded the event in its entirety and have created a DVD of the Memorial Service. At the request of Rollins College we have made this available to friends and family through this website. You may purchase the DVD for $15 plus shipping.
From the Rollins Alumni Page
Rollins Remembers Arnold Wettstein ’06H
“I always believed it was important for students to look beyond themselves by serving others.” Dean Wettstein, 2005.
Reverend A. Arnold Wettstein, Ph.D., of Winter Park, Florida, died in the Mayflower Retirement Center on May 30, 2008. He was 80.
Arnold Wettstein graduated from Princeton University in 1949 and earned a Bachelor of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in 1951 and was ordained into the ministry at his father’s Reformed Church in Hoboken, New Jersey. He entered the military service as a Navy Chaplain, Lieutenant, J.G. in December, 1951 and served on the 1953 Bering Sea expedition. On June 4, 1954 he married Marguerite Bausmann Verdier of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
After the Navy chaplaincy, Rev. Wettstein served as the Associate Ministers of the Community Church of Great Neck, New York, and the Shiloh Congregational Church in Dayton, Ohio, before serving the Community Church in Vero Beach, Florida, from 1960 until 1966 as its Minister. Between 1966 and 1968 he earned a doctorate in Philosophy and Religion at McGill University, while at the same time ministering at the United Church of Canada in Boucherville near Montreal. After receiving his Ph.D. from McGill, Dr. Wettstein began teaching as an Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Rollins College while also holding the position of Associate Dean of the Chapel. Four years later he was appointed Dean of Knowles Memorial Chapel, a position held until 1991. Reverend Wettstein was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Winter Park and served on national and community boards including chaplain of the Ethics Committee of the Mayflower Retirement Center. He was President of the National Association of College and University Chaplains and a member of the North American Paul Tillich Society of Theologians.
Dean Wettstein was a thoughtful counselor, a gifted teacher, and a beloved minister. During his career he received the Arthur Vining Davis and the Hugh F. McKean teaching awards and the William Blackman and George Morgan awards for his service to the College. He was admired for his service learning courses in Jamaica, Guatemala, Uganda, and Ghana and for his projects for Habitat for Humanity International. In 2006, Rollins College awarded him an honorary doctorate for his long and faithful service. One of his greatest joys was participating in the 2001 and 2002 Heartland Chautauquas, where he portrayed Harry Emerson Fosdick and Reinhold Niebuhr. But for many, Rev. Wettstein will be most remembered for the inspiring sermons that lifted the spirits and challenged the souls of the church communities he served.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 21 at the Knowles Memorial Chapel.
Alumni members of the Rollins Chapel Choir will be gathering that Sunday to make a musical tribute to Arnold Wettstein, Dean Emeritus of the Chapel. The choir will be singing under the direction of former choirmaster, Alexander Anderson, with Bruce Barber ’82 at the organ. Anyone who wishes to participate in the choir is welcome to join. Since arrangements will need to be made to have enough scores for everyone, if you wish to sing at the memorial service please contact Susan Curran ’76 at scurran@rollins.edu. She can provide you with information about the music selections and the rehearsal schedule.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to:
Oxfam America, oxfamamerica.org, 226 Causeway St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02114
Heifer Project International, heifer.org, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202
Habitat for Humanity International, habitat.org, 121 Habitat Street, Americus, GA 31709