Dr. Knittel was the president at SMC when I was a student there 70-72. I was always amazed at his public speaking ability.  I had the privilege of teaching his granddaughter at Shenandoah Valley Academy. When the time came to choose a commencement speaker for her graduation class, her grandfather was the obvious choice. He graciously agreed. As expected he delighted and engaged us all with his humor and words of wisdom. It was a privilege to hear him again. My condolences to his family. I know he will be sorely missed

The first time I met Dr. Knittle was at SMC. When he heard my name he asked me if I was my father's son. (He had known my dad from Andrews.) When I afirmed this he asked about my mother and little sister. I was amazed that with all the people he must have met, he would recall such detail.  He seemed shocked that I would find thisimpressive.  Through my next four years at Southern, he had an open door to his office which I used from time to time. He was a wonderful example of a man of integrity.

I first met Frank and Helen at a tiny church in Bowie, Texas.  During our interaction, I soon found out he did not like to receive or give hugs.  I set to correcting that "deficiency". Over time, we went from hand shake to hugs. I knew my "lessons" had paid off when we visited him at rehab.  We walked into his room, he stood up from his chair and extended his arms for a HUG!  

My husband and I were privileged to have known Frank and Helen and consider them friends and family.  A few weeks before his passing, he and I made an appointment to meet at Christ's coming. I look forward to that day with great anticipation.  So much to catch up on. We love you Helen and were glad to have met some of your family.

"All of you have an A in my class so let's get past that right from the start!"
It was 1986, when Dr. Knittle openned our writing class with those words.  "Now give me a 500 words about something you love.  I'll give you 15 minutes" He said. "Yes. Now. Just write. Don't worry. You already have an A."
I pushed down the panic and wrote like crazy.  "This IS crazy!" I thought.  
I and just four other diligent seniors at La Sierra Academy had been rewarded with a college English class at La Sierra College of Loma Linda University.  
After years of indifferent numbing English classes this felt wild.
He leaned his chair back to the tipping point, put his feet up on a desk and stretched his legs and that trademark smile that is as wide as the sky.  
I never saw him take his feet off the desk or heard him walking amongst us.  I barely saw him snatch papers away from my neighbors.  I crammed a few more words, "...part of life is worth remembering" Before he swiped mine and started reading samples to us.  
"Look at this!" He said about a great description.  
"Listen to the rhythm of these two sentences!" He said about another.  
"And this closing line is wonderful" He said of mine. "Begin a new story with that line."

Frank opened that dopamine faucet in my brain and kept it flowing all through college.  As my advisor he used our meetings to idea surf and inspire.  His chairman's office in La Sierra Hall existed between the first and second floor.  So cool.  Between worlds.  Like a wormhole or crack in time.  Time-jumping with Dr. Knittle fired up new stories, papers, research.

I went to medical school but kept competing in writing contests and calling him for nonsequiturs.  He and Helen sat in honor with my family at my wedding.  

To me, Dr. Knittle is the lateral mind, the sage, the wise-cracker, and the genuine friend.

That part of my life is worth remembering.

I treasure the time I spent working for Dr. Knittel at Andrews' University my senior year of college. He told me a story from his time in college, when he took a class in printing.  He had already earned money as a printer, and figured the class would be a snap until a few days before the end of the term when the teacher announced that the final test would be a series of true/false questions taken from the textbook, which Dr. Knittel had failed to purchase in an effort at economy.  He rushed around trying unsuccessfully to find a copy of the textbook, and finally decided upon a strategy. He thought that he had a 50/50 chance of at least passing if he marked everything either true, or false, and since he figured the teacher wasn't too bright he decided that the man would have probably put more true statements on the test than false, as it would take more skill to craft a plausible false statement.  So, Dr. Knittel read each question, marked "T", and went through the test that way. Much to his amazement, when the tests were returned, he had scored the top grade, 98%.  The teacher had made a list of 49 true statements directly from the book, and stuck one false statement in the middle just for variety.  "Congratulations, Frank," said the teacher.  "I didn't think you had it in you."
I have very fond memories of Dr. Knittel.  My sympathy to the entire family.

I was privileged to have him as my dean at Campion Academy in Loveland, Co.  He was a very good influence on a budding freshman and Christian.  God bless and comfort Helen and all the family and friends.

 It is Sunday morning. I am grading student essays; yet my mind wanders. I am remembering a man who was my friend and mentor. This week a giant in Adventist education, Frank Knittel, passed to his rest. His vitae includes a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature, Dean of Students at Andrews University, President of Southern Adventist University, and English Department Chair at La Sierra University.

It was my privilege to be Frank Knittel's student at Andrews University. His graduate seminar in History of the English Language (a potentially lifeless subject), was a highlight of my educational journey. Subsequently, Frank was invited to be president at Southern Adventist University, where some years later he invited me to teach on the faculty. It was there that I came to appreciate Frank's integrity and courage. In the face of political pressure and a conservative witch hunt, Frank stood up for his faculty.

The stories about Frank's brilliance, administrative prowess, and humor are legendary, but true. But this morning, I'm reflecting on his humanity. One story is fixed in my mind:

Twelve years ago when I left Southern California to take an English position at Pine Hills Adventist Academy, I was in my first few weeks of teaching. The seniors, in particular, gave me a rough time. Their previous teacher had given up after only one year, and this class was sure they could make short work of me as well. Their unruly behavior and pathetic essays caused me to regret my decision to teach high school English. If other employment opportunities had presented themselves to me at that time, I would have jumped!!

During this time of despair, the Knittels stopped by to visit en route to see relatives. I whimpered and moaned about my situation and slammed down the offending essays on the kitchen table. Frank glanced at them briefly, and then we spent the evening catching up. After I relayed my tale of woe, Frank returned to the kitchen table, took up a red pen, and spent the next two hours grading those essays. He wrote words of praise on two students' papers; he heavily edited the others; and for the boys I had mentioned as trouble-makers, he penned scathing rebukes. 

The next day I returned the essays and told the class that their work had been evaluated by an eminent college English professor and that his words should be taken to heart. Although the two worst offenders took exception to their evaluations, the rest of the class took Frank's comments to heart and gradually learning began to take place.

Thank you, Frank, for your friendship, for your inspiration, for your encouragement, and for your mentoring. Any success I have had as a teacher is an outcome of watching and listening to you. You will be missed. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

My first contact with Frank Knittel was at Enterprise Academy in Kansas when he was the boy's dean. He was stern but full of fun. He probably was about 21 years old and had some students who had been in the Army who were older than he. He was a great roller skater and would really cut some cool turns. Many years later my wife and I, along with Charles and Frances Davis, met Frank and his wife at Bob Warner's home in Riverside, CA.  We had such a lovely visit and time. He was a wonderful man and will always be remembered by me as someone who really cared and had concern for those he came in contact with.  He had an outstanding memory.  Will see him in Heaven.

Frank and Helen were treasured friends of my parents. I grew up knowing how special they both were. Their friendship continued to Darold and me while at Andrews and beyond. Our love and prayers to Helen and the family.

So sorry to hear of the loss of Frank Knittle. He was president of Southern Missionary College when I attended 1980-83. I have wonderful memories of getting to know him on a personal basis during orchestra tours overseas. On one of these tours I was assigned to the group of about 10 students he was responsible for as we traveled from airports to buses to hotels to concert venues. At each transition he faithfully counted us to make sure no one was missing. I greatly appreciated his wonderful sense of humor, approachability,and his gift for making each of us feel important and valued. I look forward to that wonderful day when we will see him again.

I enjoyed Mr. Knittel's teaching and feel honored to have know him.  There will never be another person like him.  I was in some of his classes at Enterprise Academy in Kansas.  He was only 3-4 years older than his students.

Reba Barr Livingston

Frank Knittel was one of the finest persons I have known. He was a renaissance man and always a delight to be around. Often in my work with young people his example has served as model. My condolences to his wonderful wife, Helen and their children. I look forward to seeing him again when Jesus comes.

Frank was college president when I was a student. He was a great speaker, personable, liberal thinker,  and motivator. Later I worked for the church and got to know him as a colleague. He will be greatly missed. My prayers are with Helen and the family.

Frank hand picked my father to run the motor pool at SAU in 1974.  He saw my father's mechanical and leadership abilities before others did.  His belief in, and encouragement of my dad willed those abilities into physical expression.  For many year's he was a source of encouragement to my dad, and I can say for certain that the opportunity he gave dad changed the course of our lives: economically, socially and spiritually.  Dad thought the world of Frank, as did my mother.  Now they are all at rest...  Love to Helen, Jeff, Sherry and all of your extended family as your mourn and cherish the memory of Frank.

I first met Frank Knittel during the 60s when I was a Seminary student and he was Vice President for Student Affairs (Dean of Students) at Andrews University.  He was thought of as a student advocate, innovative, creative, energetic, and able.

By the time I arrived back on campus to teach in the 70s, he was president of what became Southern Adventist University.  Several of us were unhappy with some of the decisions being made by the denomination at the time so decided to get together to make common cause.  Frank offered to host us in Atlanta so I was part of a group who flew in from Berrien Springs in a small private planequite an experience to land on the huge new runway at Hartsfield International Airport with large jets in front of us and behind us!  Frank was encouraging and helpful as we came up with the infamous Atlanta Declaration.

We went on to have helpful interactions when we were fellow college presidents.  By the time I came to La Sierra University, he was a Professor of English and also recruited for the graduate program in English.  Having been a seasoned administrator, he was always encouraging and supportive and a never-ending source of wisdom.  Upon his retirement, he became Professor Emeritus, and moved to Keene, Texas, where he did a stint as mayor!  Having received a medallion of excellence from the Charles Weniger Society back in 1981, when I became president of the Society for a few years, I invited him to come to LLU Church in 2010 to give the Emmerson Address at the annual meeting of the Society.  It was a no-holds-barred lecture that would have made his teacher, Charles Weniger, proud.

It is, therefore, with a profound sense of loss that I heard about Frank's passing.  He was a role model for any academic administrator.  Absolutely loyal to the church, he was an original thinker, with a gift for encouragement.  His legacy will live on in the lives of the countless students and friends whose lives are the richer for having been influenced by him.

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Dear Knittel family,
    It has been many years since Dan and I have seen Dr. Knittel, but both of us have fond memories of him.  Intelligent, humorous, a man of God who loved all of us at Southern. He will be missed.  We will forever picture him as he was then...articulate, creative, friendly, humble and caring. Dan and Richa Stevens, Both in the class of 1972 SMC Theology and Nursing

Thinking of you at this time of loss and grief.  Mr. Knittel was my English teacher at Enterprise Academy....he was the best teacher I ever had and I have so many good memories of him....he was a wonderful and brilliant teacher. He was the speaker at the academy for one of my honor years.  Sooo glad I got to see him then.

OBITUARY

Frank A. Knittel

30 September, 1927 – 18 February, 2015

Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist-Valley View Chapel

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services