Friends and colleagues of Stanislaus State Dean of Library Services Emeritus John Amrhein described him as an avid reader and supportive leader who had a strong knack for words and whose forward thinking helped bring the J. Burton Vasché Library into the electronic age.
Amrhein, who retired from the University in July 1998 after 14 years of service, passed away peacefully on May 31 in Hughson.
During his time at Stan State, Amrhein oversaw several significant library projects that included a major expansion and renovation of the library building completed in 1989 and the implementation of the University Library’s first online integration system.
Amrhein joined the University on Aug. 1, 1984, as director of the library. In 1991, the position title changed to dean of library services, and upon his retirement in 1998, then-President Marvalene Hughes bestowed him with the title of emeritus.
Stan State Librarian Annie Hor, whom Amrhein hired, described him as a nurturing supervisor.
“I had the privilege to work with John from 1996 until his retirement,” Hor said. “As a new librarian, I would go seek his advice. John would listen quietly, offer suggestions and encourage me to proceed using my judgment. I learned a lot from John.”
Retired reference librarian Paula Crawford commended Amrhein’s management style.
“He was a real sweetheart,” said Crawford, who joined the University in 1973 and retired in 2000. “With the librarians we had at the time, we had extreme personalities and feathers would get ruffled. He seemed to be able to calm people down. He was very involved on campus and not isolated in his office. He was close friends with a lot of faculty, not just the deans he sat in meetings with. He was a personable guy.
“One of the things he did was bring us into the electronic age. I had a computer and used it, but not for everyday things. He stopped putting anything on paper. We got rid of our letterhead. Everything was done through email, and it took time to adjust. We’d have a meeting, and if you hadn’t read the email with the agenda, you might have missed that you were supposed to report something.”
Crawford said Amrhein also changed the reporting structure, so the library’s public services and technology services transitioned from each having a departmental lead to both falling under his purview. “It made it easier for him to know what was going on,” she said.
Loretta Blakeley worked as Amrhein’s assistant for 10 years and lauded his independence and the trust he had in his employees.
“He did all his own typing, even though it was the hunt and peck style. John simply trusted me to do my job, and I always appreciated that. He provided guidance when needed and was always kind and understanding. As a dean, John was decisive, but inclusive, purposeful and fair.”
Born in Pittsburgh, Amrhein earned a Bachelor of Arts in classics and philosophy from Duquesne University and his first master’s degree in library science from the University of Pittsburgh. He worked at Penn State University first as a periodicals librarian and then as an assistant librarian for Commonwealth Campuses and Continuing Education. He earned a second master’s degree in philosophy from Penn State. He worked at two other universities, Kent State University and Kutztown University, before he moved to California and joined Stan State.
In his spare time, Amrhein loved spending time with his dogs, gardening, vacationing in national parks, woodworking and spending time on the water in boats and snorkeling. He also enjoyed local theater and playing poker with a close group of friends.
Amrhein was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Grace Amrhein, sister Susan Kwan and son Timothy Amrhein. He is survived by his brother-in-law Robert Kwan, cousins David Neuman and Mary Peterson, son Karl Amrhein, daughter-in-law Jody Thomas, three grandchildren and his good friend Harold Vang.
A remembrance honoring Amrhein was held on June 10. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to The Meg Foundation, a non-profit organization.
