Clarence "Clancy" Herbst, Jr. (ChemEngr'50), passed away on June 21.听 He was 95. He and his wife, Linda Vitti Herbst, made the Herbst Program of Humanities for Engineers, now called the Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics and Society, possible.听
Without their generous support through the years, countless engineers might never have looked up from their equations to see the whole world unfolding before them.听听
"Engineers can get so pigeon-holed and wrapped up in their work that they don't take time to read things that broaden their outlooks," Clancy said.
Clancy was many things to many people. A devoted friend, loving husband and father, passionate athletics fan and a generous philanthropist who believed in helping others and listening to what others had to say.听
These are the life lessons that Clancy often shared with younger audiences, courtesy of Colorado athletics:
- The possessions you accumulate will, in reality, possess you. The only things of value are true friends, and personal self-esteem;
- Enjoy the journey of life day by day;
- Stay positive, keep an open mind, and help others;
- Decide where you would like to live and then find a job there;
- Listen, listen, listen. You don't learn when you are the one talking;
- Seek the big picture. Don't be overwhelmed by the world's noise;
- Take lots of pictures, save them, particularly of people. You will cherish them later in life;
- Work and lead by consensus since all of your associates' views have value;
- Mistakes happen, learn from them;
- Travel, particularly overseas, if you can.
- Listen, listen, listen.听 You don't learn if you're the one talking.
When what he wanted to be his legacy to be, Herbst said, "That I cared about others. I want to give others a hand up."