Dr. Richard H. (Dick) Hagemeyer, founding president and president emeritus of Central Piedmont Community College, died December 26, 2012 at the age of 95 at Plantation Estates in Matthews, NC. He was born on December 15, 1917 in Toledo, OH to the late Frank Hagemeyer and Sophia Louise Harmeyer Hagemeyer.
Dick received his B.S. degree from Bowling Green State University in 1939, his masters degree from the University of Michigan in 1951, and his doctorate in education from Wayne State University in 1961.
Dick served in the Army Air Corps from 1945-1946 in the south Pacific during World War II. He worked for the Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, MI before moving to Charlotte with wife Janet and children, Dick Jr. and Carol, to be the first president of Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). From the very beginning, Dick shared his vision for CPCC – a college that would advance the life-long educational development of adults in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. As a result of Dick’s vision and leadership, CPCC has grown from the original campus on Elizabeth Avenue to a flagship community college with six campuses serving Mecklenburg County. Dick created the prototype for the modern community college, and he was a national leader in educational innovation, including individualized instruction. Dick’s legacy will continue to touch the lives of thousands and provide immeasurable value to the community.
Among his many other leadership positions, Dick was on the Board of Directors for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, president of the Downtown Rotary Club, president of the League for Innovation in the Community College, and president of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges.
Dick received many awards including the Charlotte News Man of the Year and the Bowling Green State University Distinguished Alumnus Award.
After retirement in 1986, Dick and Jinny left for a three month assignment in Swaziland, Africa, on a project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. There, Dick served as a consultant to the President of the Swaziland College of Technology. Upon return to Charlotte, Dick became executive director of the Governor’s Commission on Literacy. Dick and Jinny travelled with the Friendship Force to Thailand, Russia, Brazil, and Indonesia. They also enjoyed cruising and visiting many other countries around the world.
Dick was an avid golfer and a member of Carmel Country Club. He enjoyed fishing, especially with his son and grandchildren. Gardening brought him great joy as he planted and cared for his flowers. He enjoyed woodworking and building furniture, and he could fix almost anything. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it.
Dick was preceded in death by his first wife, Janet Stump Hagemeyer and his daughter Carol Hagemeyer Perkins. Dick is survived by his wife of 29 years, Virginia (Jinny) Harris Hagemeyer; son Richard H. Hagemeyer, Jr. and wife Linda; grandson Richard Hagemeyer, III, wife Kim and their children Gabe, Simon and Noah; grandson Eric Hagemeyer, wife Melissa and their children Adison and Riley; son-in-law Bill Perkins and his children Mark Perkins and Sally Wyatt, husband Michael; stepchildren Richard Bates and wife Jennifer, Beth Boyle and husband Jack, Bobby Bates and wife Roxanne; step-grandchildren R.J. Bates, Jenna Shive, Lauren Cole, Brittany Griffin, Cameron Barden, Hailey Bates and Zayn Bates.
A service to celebrate Dick’s life will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 1:00 pm at Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Road, Charlotte, with Rev. Robin P. Coira officiating. The family will receive friends and the celebration will continue in the church’s Heaton Hall following the service. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in a private service.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in honor of Richard Hagemeyer to the CPCC Foundation (designate for Student Scholarships), P.O. Box 35009, Charlotte, NC 28235 or Myers Park Baptist Church (designate for the Through the Week School Scholarship Fund), 1900 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207.
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