Thomas E. Chambers, Retired Manhattan College Dean, Dead At 84

RIVERDALE , N.Y. – Thomas E. Chambers, dean of general studies at Manhattan College from 1970 to 1986, died on Friday, October 21. He was 84.

Chambers joined the College in 1965 as associate professor of marketing and director of the evening division and summer school, positions he held until his appointment as dean. Prior to Manhattan, he was assistant dean in the school of business at St. John’s University.

Under his leadership as dean of general studies at the College, a school that was established for nontraditional students, Chambers developed several programs including the radiological and health sciences program. Radiological and health sciences originally culminated with a certificate and later developed into degree status. As dean, he also established what was called the Equitable Life Midtown Center, which was instituted to cater adult students with full-time jobs. Additionally, he created a validation program for under-prepared high school students with college potential, the cooperative program with Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in which the College provided academic courses for the associate degree in nursing from Presbyterian Hospital and the criminal justice program. Most of these programs have since been absorbed into the current five schools of the College.

Chambers, who moved to Florida after retiring from the College in 1986, received an M.B.A. from New York University in 1959. He also held bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. John’s and in marine science from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Chambers carried a professional mates license from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Before launching his career in higher education, the Brooklyn native served in World War II as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. His passions included music, gardening, painting and carpentry. A talented artist and craftsman, Chambers even had one of his paintings displayed in the Merchant Marine Academy Museum.

Chambers’ wife, Katherine, predeceased him. He is survived by six children and 12 grandchildren.

Manhattan College, founded in 1853, is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning offering more than 40 major programs of undergraduate study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science, as well as graduate study in education and engineering.