Dec.
1, 1935 - Aug. 10, 2010SOUTH BEND - Dr. Eileen T. Bender, Ph.D., 74, passed away early Tuesday morning in Memorial Hospital. She was born in Madison, WI to the late Samuel and Sonia (Roitblat) Teper. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Harvey A. Bender, (a Biology Professor at the University of Notre Dame); her three children, Leslie C. (Chris Wunder) Bender, of Baltimore, MD, Samuel D. (Ellen) Bender, of New York, NY and Philip M. (Linda Rotunno) Bender, of Washington, DC; two sisters, Edith (Melvin, MD) Goodman, of Chicago, IL and Cynthia (Mark, MD) Soloway, of Miami Beach, FL; and eight grandchildren. Private graveside services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Hebrew Orthodox Cemetery, Mishawaka. To send condolences to the family log on to: www.McGannHay.com. Donations should be made to the Scholarship Fund in her memory at Indiana University at South Bend, where she was a Professor of English. Professor Bender concentrated her scholarship and teaching in Contemporary American Fiction and Film, 19th and 20th Century American Literature, Women's Studies and Writing and Composition. Her administrative focuses were Academic Policy & Planning and Faculty Development and Teaching. She received her B.S., with distinction in 1956 from the Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism, Evanston, IL; her Ph.D. in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1977, where she received a University Fellowship in English; an NDEA Graduate Fellowship; and Danforth/Kent Fellowship. Her Dissertation was: "The Artistic Vision, Theory and Practice of Joyce Carol Oates," Joseph X. Brennan, Director. She held numerous academic and administrative positions at IUSB before her retirement in May 2010. Eileen was a Professor of English; Chair of the Campus Directions Committee; Special Assistant to the Chancellor; Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Assistant Dean of Faculties; Acting Chairman, Division of Arts & Sciences, Assistant Chairman, Division of Arts & Sciences; Coordinator, Women Studies Programs; Coordinator, Community Service, Grants and Special Projects; and Adjunct Instructor. Professor Bender also held positions in the Department of English and Office of the President at Indiana University (statewide) and she was the Founding Director of the Faculty Colloquium on Excellence in Teaching (FACET). Among her other academic accomplishments, Professor Bender founded the Community Education Roundtable of St. Joseph County (now CONNECT) and served as a Visiting Lecturer at St. Mary's College; an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame; and a Teaching Assistant at Yale University. Dr. Bender's community and public service activities included the Kurt and Tessye Simon Fund for Holocaust Remembrance (Director); South Bend Public Library Board of Trustees (President); South Bend Community School Corporation; Southold Dance Company; Northern Indiana Historical Society; and the Michiana Arts and Sciences Council. A prolific writer and lecturer, Eileen received numerous appointments and honors. Earlier this month, Indiana's Governor conferred the state's highest recognition, the Distinguished Hoosier Award. Dr. Bender was also accomplished in the classroom, earning the Carnegie Foundation's "Indiana Professor of the Year." Other honors and awards include YWCA "Woman of the Year"; Society for Values in Higher Education - Senior Fellow; Lundquist Faculty Fellowship; Thomas Hart Benton Medal and Sylvia E. Bowman Distinguished Teaching Award from Indiana University; President's Award, South Bend Library Trustees; Newcomb Selection Panel, Woodrow Wilson Foundation; Rhodes Scholarship Trust Selection Committee, Indiana. She was a member of Temple Beth-El. Eileen enjoyed attending opera and theater with her family. In lieu of flowers contributions should be made to the Scholarship Fund in Professor Bender's memory at Indiana University at South Bend.