Neufeld, Elmer (1926-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Apr 6 p. 16

Birth date: 1926 Feb. 3

Former Bluffton president dies

Neufeld also served in leadership with MCC and GCMC

By MWR staff and Bluffton Univeristy

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Elmer Neufeld, former president of Bluffton University, who also served in leadership roles in the General Conference Mennonite Church and Mennonite Central committee, died march 30 at Mennonite Memoiral Home. He was 83.

"President Neufeld's life reflected the heart and soul of Bluffton for more than three decades," President James Harder said. "He also shared his leadership gifts in many important ways with other organizations throughout the church. He was both a great leader and carried a vision for the school."

Neufeld came to Bluffton as an assistant professor of philosophy in 1965. He became academic dean in 1974 before serving for 18 years as Bluffton's seventh president from 1978 to 1996.

In 2003 Bluffton named a new residence hall, Neufeld Hall, in his honor.