Jessie and Rolland "Ray" Lutz – In Memoriam

The Kean University Foundation gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Drs. Jessie and Rolland "Ray" Lutz for including a bequest in their final estate to support Kean University.

Dr. Rolland "Ray" Lutz, Jr., was a Professor of History at Kean University. His focus was on European History. Prior to teaching at Kean, Dr. Lutz taught at Harpur College (now Binghamton University), Hobart College (now Hobart and William Smith Colleges), Drew University, Rutgers University, and Cornell University. He also spent a year at the University of Vienna, Austria, on a Fulbright Grant. Dr. Lutz earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Puget Sound, his master's degree from the University of Chicago, and his Ph.D. from Cornell University. In addition to his academic achievements, he was also a U.S. Navy veteran. Dr. Rolland Lutz passed away in 2004 at the age of 83.

Dr. Jessie G. Lutz spent most of her career at Rutgers University where she served as chair of the History Department at Douglass College for many years. Dr. Jessie Lutz earned her bachelor's degree from UNC-Greensboro, her master's degree from University of Chicago, and her Ph.D. from Cornell University. She specialized in Modern Chinese History, spoke fluent Mandarin Chinese, and was a visiting professor in China twice (both in 1983 and 1993). Dr. Jessie Lutz passed away in December 2022 at the age of 97.

Jessie and Rolland met at the University of Chicago where they were both students. They were married for 56 years. In addition to their academic accomplishments, the couple traveled extensively to China and Europe, as well as other points of interest around the globe. They also enjoyed gardening and birdwatching in their spare time.

There is no doubt that Drs. Jessie and Rolland Lutz believed in the power of education. This testamentary gift speaks to the couple's unwavering commitment to higher education and will have a meaningful impact on the students at Kean University. The legacies of both Drs. Jessie and Rolland Lutz will live on forever, not only through the influence they had on students throughout their respective careers, but also through their acts of philanthropy.