Obituary of Valentin H. Rabe

Valentin H. Rabe, 78, Emeritus Professor of History at SUNY Geneseo, died Saturday, November 29, 2008 at his residence on Elm St. in Geneseo. He is survived by his wife Susan Schulenberg Rabe, his children, Anne (Randy Weinberg) Rabe of Castleton, NY, Matthew (Terri) Rabe of Lexington, SC, Callie Rabe of Lima, NY, Margaret (Barry) Stemper of South Deerfield, MA, grandchildren, Cassie Rabe, Simone and Michela Stemper and Maxwell Rabe, brother, Andreas (Suzanna) Rabe of Columbus, OH., nieces, nephews and cousins. Val was born January 30, 1930 in Hanover, Germany, the son of Dr. Michael and Margarete Beer Rabe. When he was ten his family emigrated to the United States and settled in New Bremen, Ohio. He became a naturalized citizen and served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He graduated from Cranbrook School, Bloomfield, Michigan, in 1949, and received his B.A. from Tufts College and M.A and Ph.D.in History from Harvard. His Ph.D. thesis, The Home Base of American China Missions, 1880-1920, published by Harvard University Press, has been called one of the most thorough studies ever made of the growth of the home base of the American missionary movement. Prior to coming to SUNY Geneseo he taught at Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia. Val was on the faculty of the SUNY Geneseo Department of History from 1967-1991, serving as Chair from 1970-1973. He was named one of America's Outstanding Educators for 1971, served on the Faculty Senate, was active in United University Professions (UUP, NYSUT), and was a statewide academic delegate for almost two decades. In retirement he served on the Board of the Livingston County Historical Society. A memorial service will be held Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 3:00 PM at the Interfaith Center, 11 Franklin St. in Geneseo, with a reception immediately following the service. Private interment will be in the German Protestant Cemetery, New Bremen, OH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Livingston County Historical Society, 30 Center St., Geneseo, NY 14454, or the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104.