by Marci Janas
Andrew Delaney '42 was always good in mathematics at Oberlin. Now he has done something good for mathematics at Oberlin.
Delaney, an Oberlin College honorary trustee, has given the college one million dollars to create, in perpetuity, the Andrew and Pauline Delaney endowed chair in mathematics. The executive committee of the board of trustees approved the establishment of the chair in its session earlier this month, and an appointment to the chair is expected to be announced following the June meeting of the board.
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Alfred MacKay says, "It's a wonderful thing to have the support of a staunch friend and great champion of Oberlin College like Andrew Delaney. Mathematics is an area that merits the recognition that endowing a professorship brings the department. Oberlin appreciates his service and his support."
Delaney credits Oberlin with enlarging what he calls his limited high-school view of the world. He says of his gift: "I just felt an obligation to Oberlin as the school that really started me on my way. . . . Oberlin taught me how to apply academics to the larger world."
Delaney has long been a steadfast and generous supporter of Oberlin. He served on the board of trustees for 11 years, where he was a member of the budget and finance committee and chair of the investment committee. His philanthropy at Oberlin has included endowing the Andrew Delaney faculty fellowship in the social sciences; his gift allowed Oberlin to match funds from a Joyce Foundation grant. The fellowship supports mid-probationary leaves of junior faculty in tenure-track positions. With his wife, Pauline, Delaney is a member of the charter class of the Fellows of the John Frederick Oberlin Society. JFO fellows make lifetime contributions of more than $100,000 to the college.
William R. Perlik, chair of the board of trustees, says: "The selection of the mathematics department not only fits in very well with Oberlin's strengths in the natural sciences, it also fits in with Andrew Delaney's interests. This is a very fruitful marrying of his interests and Oberlin's needs. Mr. Delaney has been an extremely supportive member of the board for a number of years. He has made valuable contributions in both his judgments and his advice to Oberlin. We're very pleased that he remains interested and supportive of the college."
Delaney enrolled in Oberlin after winning a full-tuition scholarship in a competitive mathematics examination. (Tuition then was $300.) A mathematics major at Oberlin, he says that he has always enjoyed mathematics and is attracted to "the logic of it."
After receiving his BA at Oberlin, Delaney earned a bachelor of science degree in meteorology from New York University; he worked as a meteorologist in the United States Air Force from 1942 to 1946.
After a full career in the insurance business, beginning as an actuarial student with Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York, Delaney retired in 1985 as vice chairman and chief investment officer of the American General Corporation in Houston. He is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and has been a director or officer of numerous insurance companies. He is currently serving as a director of White River Corporation and CCP Insurance, Inc.
Houston has also benefited from Delaney's philanthropy. In that city he is a trustee for the Foundation for the Retarded and serves as director for life of Big Brothers. He has also served as chair of the board of Emerson Unitarian Church and on the advisory board of the permanent University Fund at the University of Texas.
Marci Janas is staff writer in the office of communications.
