Dr. Jerry K. Loveland, founding faculty member of the Church College of Hawaii, passed away peacefully at home in St. George, Utah on October 1, 2004.
Loveland graduated from BYU in Provo, received a Fulbright Scholarship to the University of Manchester, U.K. and earned his Master's and Ph.D. in political science from UCLA and American University respectively.
Loveland was then hired at the CCH upon its inception in 1955, where he was influential in the development of the university's social sciences, particularly political science.
Loveland later served as chair of the department of behavioral and social science and wrote several papers and publications in political science.
"He also recruited and hired many faculty members in the social science division and then promoted their careers," added Dr. Dale Robertson, chair of the social science department.
It was here that Loveland also began a lifelong love of the Polynesian people and service to their living legacy. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Polynesian Cultural Center and its ongoing expansion.
"He and other faculty created the PCC from a dream of helping the Pacific students to be self-reliant," Robertson said. "He wanted the center to be an authentic cultural experience. Virtually all (if not all) of the PCC villages were designed by him from archaeology maps.
"It would be impossible to overstate his contribution here," continued Robertson. "There are few buildings, programs, policies, that do not have his imprint."
Loveland's academic work also extended into the subject of Polynesia, including papers and film scripts.
BYU-Hawaii archivist Dr. Greg Gubler, who knew Loveland as his boss for eight years in the behavioral and social sciences division, described Loveland as "a very nice and wonderful gentleman."
"He was really a tremendous boss; he was able to get things done," Gubler said. "He was the one who started the IPS [Institute for Polynesian Studies] and many of the programs of the Polynesian Cultural Center.
"He's the one who really pushed the Pacific and Polynesia," he continued. "We owe a tremendous debt to Jerry Loveland."
Upon his retirement from BYU-Hawaii, Loveland was honored with a University Distinguished Service Award for his years of invaluable contributions to the university and the PCC.
He is held in great respect and admiration by all who knew him, and he will forever be remembered for his kindness, wisdom and contributions to the university, PCC and the Laie community.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, October 5, in St. George, Utah, and he was laid to rest in the Brigham City Cemetery, Brigham City, Utah.