Joel Zienty

April 6th, 1938 - April 6th, 2023

Joel's Memory Wall

We encourage you to share your most beloved memories of Joel here, so that the family and other loved ones can always see it. Share your favorite stories or comment on those shared by others.

Many people didn't know Joel was a huge jazz fan. I happily converted many of his classic jazz LPs to CDs, so he could listen to them without a record player. I always considered Joel a renaissance man.

Ron Baker

May 8th, 2023 at 11:26am

I just learned of Joel's death and would like to offer the family my condolences. I first met Joel as a student, then a colleague. My office was next door to his for many years. He introduced me to so many authors and great American poets; I still have the text we used in that class with all of my scribbled notes in the margins. He would come into the classroom with his text in one hand and a cup of coffee and his pipe in the other. He would sit on the desk, light his pipe, sip coffee and talk about ee cummings, TS Elliot, Ezra Pound, too many to name. He was the reason so many became educated. What a great and fearless man. The world is a better place bc he was in it.

Sharon Klemm

May 7th, 2023 at 11:24pm

I took a humanites elective from Professor Zienty in the Spring of 1983 entitled "Introduction to the Arts". It was a game changer for me personally and helped me see the world though a larger lens. Today I had two pictures in my office, one of Jackson Pollack doing a drip painting and a large photograph of Frank Llyod Wright's Robie house. I would not have known about either had I not taken his class. He was a great teacher and a very nice man. Condolences to his family.

Scott Geik

April 13th, 2023 at 8:33am

Joel was instrumental to the faculty at LMC receiving their first contract. I think the statute of limitation has made this safe to talk about, so here was the situation. We had been in negotiations for several months and were at a standstill. Joel and I decide to play Good Cop/Bad Cop to break the logjam. I knew that the administration was reading my email, as was in their right to do. This was our plan, Joel wrote an email to me stating that the “Citizens in Support of the LMC Faculty Committee” had collected enough money to rent a billboard on I-94. He stated in the email they were all ready to proceed. I replied that I felt we should give the administration a little more time. Joel wrote back that many of the faculty were in support of the billboard and wanted to proceed. I stated he should try to calm them down. The next day at the bargaining session, we came to an agreement with the administration on the remaining contract issues. Of course, there was no “Citizens in Support of the LMC Faculty Committee”. However, because of the results, I think the administration was convinced that there was an acted accordingly. Those were fun times. We had a real esprit de corps among the faculty. I will always have fond thoughts about Joel, but this one was the most special.

William Rudman

April 9th, 2023 at 1:33pm

Joel Zienty and I joined Lake Michigan College as full time faculty members in 1973 and shared an office for many years. There were many long, enjoyable and fruitful discussions of T.S. Elliott (Joel's dissertation topic), and of the humanities courses we taught. He was the Best Man at my wedding. Susan and I cherished Linda and Joel's friendship and our get togethers. We send our heartfelt condolences to Linda and their daughters. I was glad that I made sure to see and talk to him during his walk on the bluff the last time I was in St. Joseph.

K. Sundaram

April 8th, 2023 at 7:58pm

Our community has lost a first rate educator and role model. While we spared a good deal over the years l never doubted Joel’s dedication to his students and their intellectual growth. As we entered the digital world at LMC he led the way in promoting this new way of researching and communicating. We served on many committees together and while clashing at times his sincerity was never in doubt.
His students and colleagues will miss him. Go in peace Joel.

Larry Steck

April 8th, 2023 at 7:12pm

Joel and I were long-time colleagues at Lake Michigan College. I think he came onboard a year before I was hired, and retired at least five years after I did. We were both stubborn defenders of our pedagogical interests and techniques, and didn’t always agree on either, but I was always aware of how seriously he took teaching, and the respect he inspired in many of his students. He brought new humanities approaches, including film studies, into the curriculum, which proved very popular. I heard him mentioned as a favorite teacher by a number of students, who appreciated his methods and his courses.
My own favorite memory of Joel is working with him for over a year on a seven-member faculty bargaining committee that succeeding in winning our first MEA union contract. Not every faculty member was willing to put in the long hours and psychological stress necessary to prevail, but Joel was dedicated to the task and a savvy tactician.
I know he will be much missed, particularly by his family, but his positive influence will live on in the lives of those he taught and mentored in his many years in the classroom. Rest in peace, Joel.