After receiving his Ph.D. in civil (hydraulic) engineering from the University of Iowa, Albertson immediately began dedicating his life to service, particularly to helping the poor. As a professor at CSU for six decades, Albertson was instrumental in establishing the CSU International Center and was director of CSURF, the Colorado State University Research Foundation. In 1959, he was recruited to create the South East Asia Treaty Organization Graduate School of Engineering (later the Asian Institute of Technology) in Bangkok, Thailand, which energized him to play a key role in developing the Peace Corps. He also established Village Earth, a local nonprofit organization.
Maury Albertson's goodness spanned globe
Maury Albertson's goodness spanned globe
Peace Corps founder a 'world professor,' a doer
BY JEAN SPENCER • JeanSpencer@coloradoan.com •
February 15, 2009
Maurice Albertson, a revered community leader who left both local inspiration and a profound international footprint, was commemorated Saturday at a public memorial service.
About 350 people gathered to celebrate the life of Maurice "Maury" Albertson at First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St. Albertson, a CSU emeritus professor, father, humanitarian and visionary, died Jan. 11 after 90 years of dedication and service.
"He showed me that you can be a local professor and a world professor at the same time," said John Pratt, who worked with Albertson at Colorado State University.
The one-hour service, which included music and a video tribute to Albertson, commemorated a man whose impact stretched wide.
His daughter, Sarah Albertson, and grandson, Shipherd Reed, plus colleagues and friends spoke Saturday about the great influence Albertson had during his lifetime.
"Dad was a doer. He was a mover and shaker," Sarah Albertson said. "Dad was full of give and take and discussion on how to make the world a better place. ... He was a go-getter. ... He was an advocate.... He was a believer in you and me."
After receiving his Ph.D. in civil (hydraulic) engineering from the University of Iowa, Albertson immediately began dedicating his life to service, particularly to helping the poor.
As a professor at CSU for six decades, Albertson was instrumental in establishing the CSU International Center and was director of CSURF, the Colorado State University Research Foundation.
In 1959, he was recruited to create the South East Asia Treaty Organization Graduate School of Engineering (later the Asian Institute of Technology) in Bangkok, Thailand, which energized him to play a key role in developing the Peace Corps. He also established Village Earth, a local nonprofit organization.
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A “thank you” to Albertson’s dedication and sincere quest to make a difference in the world resonated during the service.
“More than anybody I know, (Albertson) lived the words of Gandhi,” Reed said. “‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ That’s what he did.”
“For Maury, it was always about doing the right thing and sharing pure goodness,” said Jerry Kennell, president of Village Earth.
Those in attendance, who ranged from family and neighbors to colleagues and students, shared their happy memories, and that was just how Audrey Faulkner — Albertson’s wife — had wanted the service to remain; positive and lighthearted.
“We wanted it to be a joyous celebration,” Faulkner said, busily greeting and shaking the hands of hundreds of attendees. “We wanted a service with a big smile, just like my husband had.”
For Steve Ramor, pastor of Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship, the salute to Albertson was inspirational.
“The celebration will continue each time we remember his words,” he said. “Each time we reach inside ourselves and make this world a better place, we will know and remember Maury Albertson.”
