MONMOUTH, Ill. — Richard “Doc” Kieft, 64, a full-time member of Monmouth College’s chemistry department from 1975 to 2006 and a member of the college’s board of trustees, died Sept. 16, 2009, following a short bout with pancreatic cancer.

Kieft’s affection for Monmouth ran deep, and that feeling was returned by the campus community. The longtime professor, who never married and had no children of his own, addressed scores of fans who gathered to wish him well at his retirement reception in 2006.

“The college has really been my life,” Kieft said. “Truly for me, Monmouth College has been my family.”

President Mauri Ditzler said that during his introduction to Monmouth in 2005, he asked trustees Walter Huff ’56 and David Byrnes ’72 to tell him about Monmouth College by describing one of its people in greater detail. “They told me about Doc,” he said.

Born in Danville, Pa., in 1945, Kieft came to Monmouth College in 1975 after completing his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees at Dickinson College and the University of Illinois, respectively, and two years as a postdoctoral teaching associate at Tulane University.

“I wanted something smaller like Bucknell,” said Kieft of the university where his father was a professor of chemistry. “Bucknell was about the size of Monmouth when I was growing up.” Once on campus, he said, “Monmouth reminded me so much of my home.”

While at MC, Kieft was the first recipient of the Sears-Roebuck Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership in 1988, and he was selected the professor of the year by the student body in 1995. In 2002, Monmouth College created the Garrett W. Thiessen Chair of Chemistry, and Kieft was the first professor honored with the position.

Kieft was also an elder at Faith United Presbyterian Church, and it was through that affiliation that he came to be a generous supporter of the Light Eternal Medical Clinic in Kandithankulam, India. He was also a member of the board of the Warren County YMCA, the Warren County United Way and the Warren Achievement Center.

Two of Kieft’s non-teaching roles on campus also meant a lot to him. He served as adviser to the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity for 25 years, and he was the college’s faculty athletic representative for 15 years.

“Doc was totally dedicated to the students at Monmouth College,” said trustee Mark Taylor ’78. “He had an ability to speak to students where they were and to provide the connection that they needed.”

“I consider myself lucky for two reasons,” said Kieft at his retirement reception. “First, I was blessed to have incredibly supportive parents. My dad always loved his job and that made me excited to be a teacher, too. Second, I have a job that I enjoy. I love life and have always had fun because I enjoy what I do.”

Kieft named Monmouth College as the primary beneficiary of his estate. He said leaving his estate to Monmouth “was just natural for me. Monmouth College is my family.”

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the new Center for Integrated Studies at Monmouth College at 700 East Broadway, Monmouth, IL 61462, to Faith United Presbyterian Church, 200 South Eighth St., Monmouth, IL 61462, or to Great River Hospice, 1306 South Washington Rd., West Burlington, IA 52655-1703.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday from 2-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Turnbull Funeral Home, Monmouth. The funeral will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at Faith United Presbyterian Church, Monmouth. Cremation will be accorded.