In his 51 years of service at Walsh University, Associate Professor of Mathematics Tom Ling helped to shape the lives and careers of countless Walsh students with his guidance, patience and expertise in the classroom. Yih Tang Ling was born in Taiwan in 1936. When he was 20 years old, he came to the United States to attend Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia. At that time, the President of Davis and Elkins dubbed him “Tom” and for five decades, that is how students and colleagues came to know him.
Tom met his beloved wife of 55 years, Dorothy, while attending Davis and Elkins. The two married in 1962 and raised two sons – Steve, a 1990 graduate of Walsh and an accountant with the Stark County Health Department, and David, a violinist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra.
Shortly after marrying, the Lings moved to Ohio where Tom continued his graduate studies at Kent State University. While he started his teaching career at Kent, it was Walsh University that would become his home. He joined the faculty in the Math department in 1966, and Dorothy joined Walsh in spring 1969 to teach music appreciation. The two remained colleagues until Dorothy’s retirement in 2003. The Dorothy Ling Rehearsal Hall in the Birk Center for the Arts was dedicated in her name and honor in 2012.
Tom retired from Walsh in 2017. During his tenure, he watched Walsh College grow into vibrant Walsh University. He saw the campus blossom from just a few buildings to 27 and a handful of students to 3000. Tom’s memories could fill volumes, and his pride in Walsh was evident.
For his service and commitment to the University, Tom was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Walsh University in 2017. Tom passed into the Loving Arms of our Lord on September 5, 2019.
Interview with Professor Tom Ling on his Walsh 50th Anniversary, January 2016
Among my many souvenirs is a faded note from my first day of teaching at Walsh in 1966. In red pencil, I had written down a reminder from Walsh President Brother Robert Francoeur. It said simply, “say a prayer before class.” More than 50 years later, I still have that note.
When I joined the Walsh faculty, male students wore collared shirts and ties to class and the fear on campus was the possibility of being drafted and sent to Vietnam. There were Student Brothers walking around in black robes and the University had just become co-ed.
My wife Dorothy joined Walsh in spring 1969 to teach music appreciation. She retired in 2003. The Dorothy Ling Rehearsal Hall in the Birk Center for the Arts was dedicated in her name and honor in 2012.
We had tradition back in the day that every semester, Dorothy would invite all of her students to come to our house for dinner. One time they even showed up on a school bus! We would make sure they all signed our guest books. She enjoyed her students so much. And maybe it’s a memory of Walsh that alumni took away with them. Maybe it helps them to feel connected to Walsh knowing that I’m still here.
The Brothers of Christian Instruction were one of the main reasons I stayed at Walsh all these years. They are devout Catholics; make no doubt of it. However, the way they practice their religion is very inclusive and welcoming of others. I think that may be why people have always gravitated towards them, regardless of their faith. Even though we weren’t Catholic, Dorothy and I would join them for services in Maine. We always felt very welcome and comfortable.
One of my favorite memories was the day Walsh received full 10-year accreditation in 1970. There was a feeling of excitement on campus when we got the news. I joined a group of faculty members and we drove to the Akron-Canton Airport to greet Br. Robert Francoeur and Br. Thomas Farrell when they arrived home from Chicago where they had been meeting with the accreditation board.
We were so happy. We were fully accredited! It was a huge moment for all of us. We couldn’t wait to get to the airport and meet the plane. We even stopped at Russ Lee’s on the way back to Walsh to celebrate together.
In the last half a century I had a front row seat witnessing Walsh University from a nascent college, come of age. I have always felt a sense of responsibility to be a role model for my students. And not just inside the classroom but in the way I live my life. I would be very satisfied if maybe I was able to turn just one student around. When people remember me, they can say ‘Tom Ling, devoted half a century of his life to Walsh University and its students, inside and outside the classroom.’ I’d be happy with that.