Remembering Sociology Professors Lengermann and Pease

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences remembers with gratitude and fondness two faculty members in the Department of Sociology, Dr. Joseph Lengermann and Professor John Pease, who recently passed away.

Both Dr. Lengermann and Professor Pease created enduring legacies in their field, at the University of Maryland, and in the lives and careers of their students.

Dr. Lengermann passed away on February 5, 2024, at the age of 88. Professor Jeff Lucas, chair of the Department of Sociology, shared remembrances.

“Joe was a longtime Associate Chair in our department—and also at other times Graduate Director and Acting Chair—who was always prosocial in his approach. He cared deeply about the department and the people in it, and he showed it by being a tireless workhorse in support of the department,” Lucas said.

Professor Pease passed away on March 12, 2024. He had retired from teaching in 2017, after serving the University of Maryland for 50 years. 

In 2017, he served as the college’s winter commencement speaker. At the time, reflecting on his career, Professor Pease said, “I enjoy working with students. I enjoy having a job that pays the rent, where I get paid for studying. I was never good at anything but I was okay at studying. Teaching is a little bit like that: You get paid for reading and talking.”

“John was a beloved professor and colleague on our campus who stayed in touch with countless former undergraduate students. There are thousands of UMD alumni for whom John played a formative role in their education,” Lucas said. 

Published on Mon, Mar 25, 2024 - 12:57PM