Ralph Tesseneer devoted his life to higher education and community involvement.
And to know anything about him as an educator, you just have to talk to one of his students – or one of his peers.
“He had great respect for the community,” says former NKU Professor of the Year and administrator Dr. James Ramage. “And he always put students and faculty first.”
Tesseneer served as NKU’s Academic Vice President, Interim President, and President of NKU’s Foundation during a distinguished educational administrative run. He hired faculty for the newly-minted Northern Kentucky University in the early 1970s.
There is an NKU scholarship in his honor. NKU juniors or seniors with a major in psychology and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher can apply for in-state tuition for one academic year.
“He will be missed,” Ramage said. “He was one of the finest people.”
Dr. Ralph Athen Tesseneer, Jr. of Campbellsville, Ky., died Sunday, at his home. He was 91.
Son of the late Ralph Athen Tesseneer, Sr. and Susan Geneva Kirkland Tesseneer, Ralph Jr. was born in Russellville, Ala., on April 23, 1924. He spent his high school and early college years in Murray, Ky. During World War II, he served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater. On May 5, 1946, he married Laura Mae Fisher of Earlington, Ky., and together they raised three children.
At his funeral Wednesday in Campbellsville, Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University; Dr. Mike O’Neal, pastor of Campbellsville Baptist Church; General Noah Loy, chaplain of Bluegrass Way Dr. Larry Noe, a fellow trustee; his sister, Susan Tesseneer-Pope and his son, Dr. Ralph A. Tesseneer III, gave testimony to the visionary man who was “Dr. T.”
Dr. Carter said, “On behalf of the Campbellsville University family, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family of Dr. Ralph Tesseneer.
“He was truly a dedicated Christian servant leader who gave of his time, talents, and resources to Campbellsville University as well as to other universities during a very accomplished career.
“He touched the lives of so many students during his time in higher education, and he served the larger community and the church in numerous capacities.
“Dr. Tesseneer was one of the true visionaries on the Board of Trustees of Campbellsville University, and his impact will long be evident.”
Tesseneer served as a trustee at Campbellsville University in 1991-94, 1995-98, 2001-04, 2005-08, 2005-2008, 2010-13 and 2014-15. He was an associate trustee in 2009 and was also vice president for development there.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to: The Ralph and Laura Tesseneer Scholarship Fund at Campbellsville University, Gideon’s International or Hosparus of Central Kentucky. Memorial gifts can be sent to Parrott-Ramsey Funeral Home for distribution: 418 Lebanon Ave., Campbellsville, KY 42718. Burial was in Brookside Cemetery.
Dr. Tesseneer earned a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts College, an M.A. in Educational Administration and Psychology from Peabody College, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Louisiana State University. Dr. Tesseneer was a psychology professor at Western Kentucky State College, McNeese State College, Murray State University (where he was also Dean of the Graduate School), University of Durham in Durham, England (as a visiting professor), and Campbellsville University (where he was vice president of Development).
Tesseneer was the recipient of multiple academic and community awards and recognitions. He served as a counseling psychologist in mental health clinics in communities where he lived, and was also a frequent public speaker and educational consultant.
“He was always a wonderful administrator,” Ramage said. “He was someone I could trust and believe in.”
Ralph Tesseneer is survived by a daughter: Susan Tesseneer Walters and husband, Joe, of Campbellsville, Ky., son, Ralph Athen Tesseneer, III, M.D., and wife, Beverly, of Spartanburg, S.C. and Herbert Hoffman Tesseneer and wife, Gale, of Florence, Ky., two sisters, Myra Jean Tesseneer Cooper and husband John, of Texarkana, Texas; and Susan Tesseneer-Pope and husband Ken, of Campbellsville, Ky, Three grandchildren, and two great-grandsons.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Gerald Ware Tesseneer, and a grandson, Ralph Joseph Walters.
From NKU and Campbellsville University
This is a rather belated comment as I just yesterday became aware of this article. I am the oldest child of Ralph and Laura Tesseneer, Susan Tesseneer Walters, and I live in Campbesllvillle, where Mother and Daddy spent the last 20+ years of their lives. I must admit that I was a bit frustrated that NKU paid little attention to my parents in their retirement years. Daddy was with Frank Steeley and Jim Claypool in the infancy of the institution that has thrived there in Northern Kentucky…and each of these men had a wealth of insight about, and immense dedication to, the beginnings of the school. I was so pleased to find this article and the reference to Daddy as a “founding father”…as indeed he and these others were. All great things grow on the shoulders of others, and it behooves any organization to appreciate and learn from those who came before, laying foundations on which building can ensue and flourish. Thank you for this nice tribute.