Don Melander leads a LINEC discussion of poet and friend Joel Oppenheimer, a late colleague at New England College who is now buried in Henniker. Seated in the background is John McCausland, a participant in the class.
Don Melander leads a LINEC discussion of poet and friend Joel Oppenheimer, a late colleague at New England College who is now buried in Henniker. Seated in the background is John McCausland, a participant in the class. Credit: Courtesy

Members of the Learning Institute of New England College honored three of their own with Honorary Lifetime Membership Awards at the Sept. 11 annual meeting.

Don Melander, retired New England College Senior Professor of Humanities has facilitated a film seminar since 2018, and poetry classes for longer than that. This October, he will lead a discussion of Beat poets, and a seminar on Noir films of the 1940s. He is described as “a teacher extraordinaire with infections enthusiasm,” and “a motorcycle ridin’ intellectual Renaissance man” with “a wealth of knowledge hidden behind all that bushy  white hair, the mumbled asides and twinkling eyes.” Melander finds his LINEC role rewarding because he supports lifelong learning and takes so much pleasure in its informal but insightful discussions.

John McCausland currently leads monthly American novel book discussions. October’s selection is On the Road by Jack Kerouac, and Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury comes up in November. McCausland, who left a law practice to join the Episcopal ministry, has also taught classes on the history of Christianity and parts of the Bible. Described as “bright and entertaining,” a LINEC member said he “generously shares his philosophical and religious perspectives.” Another cited a “voice that commands and engages, and asks ‘Why do you think … ?’ ”

When Lee DeBell joined LINEC in 2011, he immediately became treasurer. His detailed financial reports, budget narratives, and engagement in subcommittees planning LINEC’s growth were cited as extraordinary. When COVID shut down in-person classes, DeBell became the go-to man for remote learning. Most recently, he participated in the redesign of LINEC’s website. “I like to play with numbers, and am happy to help whenever I can,” he said.

Finally, outgoing Chairperson Louise Cyr was recognized for her leadership through a challenging transition and efforts to bring LINEC into the 21st Century with a gift certificate to New England College theater productions in the new Putnam Center, and a donation in her name to Granite VNA Hospice House, where she volunteers.

LINEC’s six-week courses begin online in October and are open to any adult. Registration is open until September 20, and a fall course list is available at www.linec.org under “courses.”