John E. Pickelman Ph.D.

This was John’s philosophy of life. And he lived this philosophy to the best of his ability. It is with sad hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of this most visionary man and servant leader into eternal life on January 13, 2021 of complications from Lewy Body Dementia.

John was born in Saginaw, MI on October 29, 1945 to Edwin J Pickelman and Betty Kingham Pickelman. He was a 5th generation descendant of John George Pickelmann and his wife Anna Margarethe Auer, part of a group of 15 German Lutherans who emigrated to Michigan in 1845 to set up a mission colony in Frankenmuth. John’s mother was from England, where she and Ed met at a military dance during WWII, married and returned to Saginaw after the war. John was the first of 5 boys. an only child until the other four, including a set of twins, were born beginning 10 years later. John’s summer job as a teen was to care for his toddler brothers while his parents worked. He also began to cook dinner, a skill which he polished throughout his life. The brothers grew up to be very close to each other and remain so to this day.

A graduate of Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, John earned a BA from Albion College in 1967, an MA from The University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1970, and his PhD in Community College Leadership in 1976. In 1990 he was named a Distinguished Graduate of the University of Texas College of Education. Albion College named him a Distinguished Alumni in 2007. He truly valued both of these awards.

HE ENJOYED WHAT HE DID! His initial positions were in administrative positions at William Jewell College and Texas Lutheran College. After completing his Ph.D., he entered the community college sector, where he found his passion for creating opportunities for student success and began to develop his servant leadership style. John first worked for 8 years in the Dallas County Community College District (now Dallas College) in the Chancellor’s office then in 1978 as Vice President of Student Affairs then Vice President of Academic Affairs at the opening of Brookhaven College.

In 1983, John was named President of Galveston College where he restructured the leadership team and centralized the campus around a new library and health science building after passing a badly needed bond issue. He was supported by an exceptional Board of Regents who took a chance on this young first-time president and helped him succeed. New programs supporting the local and regional communities were added and enrollment expanded accordingly.

He was very active in the community, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, (Paul Harris Fellow) and the Galveston Historical Foundation, and established the Leadership Galveston program. He was named by the Galveston Daily News as one of the “10 Young Leaders to Watch”.

In 1991, he was named Chancellor of the North Harris Montgomery Community College District, now named Lone Star College System. During his tenure of 17 years, he strengthened his national reputation as an exceptional college leader, expanded from 2 campuses to 5 beautiful comprehensive colleges and 7 satellite centers serving 13 public school districts, and created a nationally acclaimed University Center. Under his leadership, student enrollment soared and the faculty received numerous awards for academic excellence, leading to one of the highest university transfer rates in the country. Technical programs as well garnered numerous awards for exemplary achievement.

A committed community builder and believer in partnerships, in each position he brought together a diverse group of stakeholders – chambers of commerce, public school districts and boards, business leaders, city government, elected officials and others to build support for the college district’s role in the economic development of the broader community. With the establishment of foundations at both colleges, he created pathways for increased opportunity for student success.

In addition, John contributed his political expertise with the state legislature to secure funding and approval for numerous programs and projects in community colleges across the state. John also served as team member and chair of accreditation committees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and was frequently asked to work with the more challenging assignments. One of his final contributions before retirement was his involvement as a leader and coach for Achieving the Dream, a student success initiative being implemented across the country. One of his frequent questions was “What have you done for students today?”, to challenge faculty, staff and administrators, no matter the job they held, to keep focus on helping students be successful.

John’s leadership was recognized with numerous awards and honors including the SACS Commission on College’s Meritorious Service Award, the Western Region Chief Executive Officer Award from the Association of Community College Trustees, and Phi Theta Kappa’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Locally, he was honored as the first recipient of the John E. Pickelman Leadership North Houston Fellow Award, the North Star Award from the North Houston Association and Citizen of the Year Awards from several chambers of commerce. He also served as president/chairman of state and national organizations including the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities, and the Texas Association of Community Colleges.

As retirement approached in 2007, many people talked about John’s legacy – building a highly respected college district with 5 colleges, a University Center, and many resources, a top leadership team recognized as one of the best in the country, a reputation for seeing and developing potential in future leaders, including current college presidents, helping communities come together for economic and educational development, a state and national leader in higher education. However, for himself, John only wanted two things – to be named Chancellor Emeritus, an honorific title in higher education, reflecting to the profession the great esteem in which he was held by the college district and community. And second, he wanted to have a college building named for him.

In August 2007, he received his first wish when the NHMCCD Board of Trustees presented him with the resolution bestowing the title of Chancellor Emeritus. He was very pleased to receive this well-deserved honor. In the fall of 2013, the John E. Pickelman Student and Conference Center at Kingwood College (now Lone Star College – Kingwood) was officially named in his honor. The building holds the offices providing a range of resources and services to students on one side, and a beautiful glass-walled conference center for campus and community events. Selecting a student-focused center was certainly appropriate, as John started his career in student services, and continued to focus on student needs throughout his career. And having a space overlooking the trees and green spaces of the college will surely add creativity and inspiration to groups using the conference center. Our family, along with John’s 90-year-old mother and longtime friends and colleagues, celebrated him at the dedication. It was a wonderful day of recognition and honor for him, as he achieved his second wish.

Post-retirement, John became a consultant for Academic Search based in Washington, D.C.

In 2008-09, he served as Interim President at William Rainey Harper College in Palatine while he conducted the search for a new president there. He and Barbara enjoyed being in the Chicago area for 8 months except for the snow. He fully retired in 2011.

HE HAD SOMEONE TO LOVE: His first marriage brought him two sons, Jason Todd and Matthew Ryan who were always a treasured part of their dad’s life. In 1981, he married Barbara Wiersema Yocum, his soulmate and sweetheart for 40 years. They first resided in Dallas then relocated as John’s career advanced. As the boys grew, he was so proud of their academic and sports achievement through high school, college and professional schools. And John was especially proud when they married great women and gave him four grandchildren, who became his favorite people from the moment they were born.

The family enjoyed many camping adventures, school and sporting events and trips to Michigan. John enjoyed golfing, boating, watching Dallas and Michigan sports, cooking and travelling. And he developed a collection of eagles. On a cruise to Alaska, at a wildlife rehab facility, we were greeted by a masterful 5’ tall eagle and saw others in various stages of rehabilitation learning to fly again. Offshore Kauai, he caught a large Mahi on a fishing expedition then made a delicious dinner of it that evening. John was an excellent cook, treating family and friends to great dinners, such as Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding at Christmas, a nod to his mother’s British roots. Both sons became good cooks through his influence. He collected many cookbooks from his travels, and often said that he was the only man on the plane reading Bon Appetit or Gourmet magazines! He lent his abilities to the annual NHMCCD Foundation Gala by offering seven-course gourmet dinners as a live auction item. The dinners stimulated such active bidding that, during his years with the college district, he raised over $150,000 for scholarships.

HE HAD SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO: During all these years, a group of 4 other college presidents and John became great friends, working the legislature, sharing strategies, celebrating successes and just having fun together. In the early years at Galveston College, Barbara complained one day that he was spending too much time in Austin. John pointed out that these fellows had a lot of experience to share with a new president, and that he had much to learn from them. She is still not sure what all they taught him! Over the years, these close friends became known as John’s older brothers. The couples travelled together, planned fall retreats and holidays, fished, golfed, played dominoes and gin, and shared fish fries, bonfires and many a dinner and cocktail. These strong friendships endure today.

After several years in north Houston, John and Barbara purchased a second home, a canal house on the West End of Galveston Island, renewing old friendships, and enjoying boating, golfing and favorite festivities like ArtWalks, Dickens on the Strand and Mardi Gras. They frequently hosted family and friends, and gave each grandchild a Toe-Dipping in the Gulf of Mexico to ensure their connection to the Island. The beach became a beloved place of relaxation and renewal for John and Barbara, especially with Friday night dinners at Paco’s or happy hours on the boat with wine and crab claws.

In 2012, Frisco Lakes, a retirement community north of Dallas became their new home, to be closer to the boys and their families. There they added more friends, especially the Sixters and their husbands, and cruising the Caribbean with them became a favorite pastime. Their laughter, adventures, support and friendships have meant so much over the past 8 years.

Preceding John in death were his parents, Edwin Pickelman and Betty J. Pickelman; brother, Barry Pickelman; and father-in-law, John Wiersema.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Pickelman of Frisco, TX; sons, Jason Pickelman, MD (Amy) of Texarkana, TX, Matthew Pickelman J. D. (Tracy) of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Ryan Pickelman, Grace Pickelman, Case Pickelman and Elle Pickelman; brothers, Jeffrey Pickelman (Mary) of Williamsburg, MI; Gene Pickelman (Lori) of Freeland, MI and Brian Pickelman (Joni) of Freeland, MI; mother-in-law, Phyllis Wiersema of Crystal River, FL; in-laws, Judy Morgan (Jason) of Lecanto, FL, Alan Wiersema (Jude) of Charlestown, RI, Donald Wiersema (Kathy) of Lecanto, FL, Gayle Scalise of Newington, CT, Jean Dolan (Michael) of Westlake Village, CA; and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and extended family across the country.

Our gratitude goes to the staff at The Cottages at Chapel Creek who cared for John, especially through the difficult Covid outbreak, and for the Total Hospice and Palliative Care staff, especially Joey Johnson, Nurse/Case Manager and Andy Yonas, Chaplain.

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to the Scholarship Fund at your local community college or to The Center for Brain Health, The University of Texas at Dallas, 2200 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX to support research on Alzheimer’s and related diseases.