I first met Lyle McGeoch on February 26, 2019 to start planning the United Way campaign at Amherst College. With us was Molly Mead, another Amherst College professor and United Way board member. The College has a long history of supporting our United Way with major campaigns, and Lyle was excited to grow the campaign further.

His enthusiasm for United Way was genuine. He and his wife Cathy had been steady, serious leadership donors to our United Way since 2000. As Chair of the Department of Computer Science, Lyle was analytical and thoughtful, which influenced his philanthropy. As he said that winter day, they loved United Way because we are “effective and efficient” with donations.

Less than eight months later Molly and I were at Lyle’s funeral. He had died of a heart attack. Molly spoke at the ceremony of his deep sense of giving back, a common theme to all who knew Lyle.

Biddy Martin, president of Amherst College, reflected on this part of Lyle in a letter to the college community:

Lyle was an extraordinary scholar, teacher, and mentor; the most generous of college citizens; and a kind, modest, and gentle man. As a class dean [most recently for the class of 2017], he earned a reputation for the care and compassion that he brought to his work with students, including the lengths to which he went to help those who struggled the most…. It is impossible to convey in words how dearly and deeply Lyle will be missed.

This sentiment is echoed across Lyle’s obit and remembrances. Yes, he was an “extraordinary scholar,” but the emphasis is always on the fact that “Lyle was always looking for ways to help others.” In addition to United Way, Lyle was active in his church, he regularly gave blood, and he led youth groups to help with relief efforts in New Orleans.

That is his true legacy.

We honor Lyle’s spirit and thank him and Cathy for their years of support. They have enriched our community and are an inspiration.

- John Bidwell, Executive Director