Please join us Sunday August 6, 2017, from 11am to 1pm at the Hilton Atlanta Galleria 4 in sharing moments of silence, stories, music, poetry and learning as we celebrate the life and spirit of our friend, teacher and exemplar, André Delbecq, who passed away October 12th 2016 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
The memorial gathering appears in the AOM online program as session #2168, part of the "In Conjunction With" sessions, and may not appear in the printed program.
It will last about 90 minutes, allowing 30 minutes at the end for those who wish to stay with one another.
Obituary Andre Delbecq's long and distinguished career at Santa Clara University began as Dean of the Leavey School of Business, a position he held from 1979-1989. His various appointments included Director of the Institute for Spirituality of Organization Leadership, Faculty Senate President, Thomas J. and Kathleen L. McCarthy University Professor, and Senior Fellow of the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education. Andre was highly recognized for his teaching, scholarship and leadership during his academic career and had received many awards, including: the President's Recognition Awards, Extraordinary Achievement Awards, Dean's Awards for Exceptional Teaching, Faculty Senate Professor of the Year, and most recently the Award for Sustained Excellence in Scholarship. In addition to many awards for his teaching, his much cited publications exceed 300 and he made over 400 academic and University Symposia presentations in his career. Leadership in his profession earned him appointments as the Eighth Dean of Fellows of the Academy of Management, President of both the Western and Midwest Academies of Management, Executive Director of the Organization Behavior Teaching Society; a listing in Who's Who in the Management Sciences; The Distinguished Service to Management, Spirituality and Religion Award from the Academy of Management; and an honorary doctorate from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology.
A few words from friends after André left us.
"Only a few weeks ago in Anaheim, Andre was actively involved in many sessions and looking forward to leading a special track in our forthcoming conference in Fayetteville. Without Andre we are considerably poorer.
Among the many notable figures that our community is blessed with, Andre was a towering giant. He will be sorely missed." Yochanan Altman, Oct. 14th 2016
"I met Andre at my first MSR doctoral consortium. I learned so much from him then and even more during the subsequent years. He embodied love and compassion; his death is a great loss for so many.
And, I know that his individual spirit-soul-energy continues, as does the wisdom and the lessons he taught." Dorianne Cotter-Lockard, Oct 14th 2016
"It was a terrible shock to me to learn that Andre passed away last week. He was an important friend and mentor and we worked together on numerous projects and events. I will never forget his gentleness, his wisdom, his deep commitment to his faith, and the beauty of just being in his presence. I am not at all surprised at the outpouring of love for Andre by the countless numbers of people he touched all over the world. For those of us who were blessed to have any kind of interaction with him, we will remember him as a Great Man – one of those rare people you meet in your life who inspires you to live up to the best that is in you. His dear friend Ricardo Levy told me that in the days before Andre's surgery, Andre was very much at peace and that his primary feeling was one of gratitude for everything that was happening. Now it is our turn to feel grateful for knowing Andre and for the ways he touched and inspired so many of us." Judi Neal, Oct 17th 2016
"Andre was and is a role model for what the MSR community of scholars and teachers stands for on so many levels. Andre's acts of service and words of deep wisdom that have helped so many over the years should be celebrated with a yearly award to someone who has embodied the values and behavior carried by Andre's example. I am deeply moved by the outpouring of positive thoughts and prayers for Andre's passing. He was an elder voice and leader in not just the MSR community but also Santa Clara University and the Community of Joseph. Let us continue the celebration of his life..." Mark Kriger, Oct 17th 2016
"Andre's death really rocked me. He seemed his old self at AOM, although I'm sure he was aware of his prognosis. We go back to the mid-70's and have done a number of workshops and seminars over the years. I was even offered a job at Santa Clara in 1983 and turned it down, therefore missing the opportunity to have him as a close colleague for all these years. One of my greatest regrets. A man who seldom talked about but strongly lived his faith, he was someone I could always turn to for support. His work on leadership formation is central for my graduate leadership development and formation class as well as our work on spiritual leadership. There is a great void in both our lives and our field due to his passing. However, his spirit still lives on among us. Let's for sure honor it but, more importantly, let it be a force for love behind our words, actions, and deeds. I know this is what he would want more than anything else."
Jody Fry, Oct 18th 2016
"Andre was a truly admirable person exemplifying kindness and combining those with great wisdom and always care in discernment. We will miss his presence not only in contact and MSR affairs but in just having him as part of this realm in which we find ourselves. May all who mourn his passing celebrate the memories of his presence." Lee Robbins, Oct 18th2016