December 14, 2006
Clark establishes endowed scholarship fund for local students in need
Worcester, Mass. - Clark University has established the Robert B. '50 and Susan G. Carlisle Endowed Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships to talented, underprivileged students from Worcester's secondary schools. The fund was established by a bequest from Carlisle's estate.
"Clark had an extremely strong place in my father's heart," said R. Bruce Carlisle Jr. whose dad, Robert, passed away last December at age 77. "I'm pleased that we can use this bequest to give back to Clark and to Worcester for what was so valuable to him."
Carlisle was born and raised in Worcester and attended Classical High School. He graduated with honors from Clark in 1950, with a degree in history and international relations and earned a Ph.D. at Cornell University. He studied at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, as a Cornell-Glasgow Exchange Fellow, and the Institute d'Etudes Politiques in Paris, as a Fulbright Scholar, and taught at Boston University.
"My father grew up in a Depression-era broken home. A couple of librarians at a Worcester library noticed that he was an exceptionally smart and curious student and were instrumental in helping him secure a scholarship to Clark," said his son, Bruce. "All of his accomplishments flow from that accident of fate and he never forgot it."
Carlisle spent 33 years at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, and retired as the Lee Professor of History Emeritus in 1991. He founded the University's International Studies Program and served as the first chairman of the faculty council and the first faculty representative to the college's board of trustees. He chaired the History Department twice during his tenure. He was the author of two books, "The Saint-Simonians and the Foundation of the Paris-Lyon Railroad" (1957) and "The Proffered Crown: Saint-Simonians and the Doctrine of Hope" (Johns Hopkins University Press 1988), and many journal articles.
Carlisle recently served as a docent for the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University and as a tour guide for "Boston by Foot." At the time of his death, he was conducting research on the social and cultural history of Worcester.
Tom Dolan, a Clark alum and retired senior vice president at Clark, said Carlisle never missed one of his class reunions.
"He epitomized what we hope all alumni take from Clark," said Dolan, "namely, a passion for their interests and a desire to become a contributing member of society."
Clark President John Bassett said the Carlisle Endowed Scholarship Fund "is exactly on the mark of what Clark is about.
"Jonas Clark wanted a place where children of blue-collar families could get a superb education. Clark continues to attract many first-generation college students who go on to be regional and national leaders," Bassett said. "We are truly grateful that Bob Carlisle, a wonderful teacher and historian, and his wife Susan have left this legacy for Clark University."
Carlisle's wife Susan predeceased him in 2000. He is survived by his three children, R. Bruce Carlisle Jr., of Larkspur, Calif.; Julia E. Carlisle, of Woodstock, VT; and Christopher G. Carlisle, of Berkeley, Calif., and three grandchildren.