Edward M. Dew, Ph.D. '66

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Dr. Edward M. Dew III, Ph.D. '66, passed away on Aug. 17, 2022, at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut, at the age of 87.

Dew was born June 10, 1935, in Burbank, California, the only child of Mary Louise Wages and Edward (Eddie) M. Dew Jr. His parents were both actors and Dew grew up immersed in theater and song and among creative artists. He carried this passion for the arts the rest of his life.

Dew earned his bachelor's degree from Pomona College, master's degrees from George Washington University and Yale University, and his doctorate in political science from UCLA.

After a brief stint as a script writer in Hollywood, Dew served as a regional director for the Peace Corps in Peru. He then found another of his great passions, education, and began a rewarding career which spanned 45 years at Fairfield University as a professor of folitics. He devoted himself to his craft and to building the vibrant community at Fairfield. He cared for and mentored his students through their time at Fairfield and beyond. He was proud of having assisted many of them earn Fulbright Scholarships and other distinguished accomplishments.

Dew was the author of several books and numerous articles focusing on the politics of Latin America, the Caribbean and Russia. He spent his sabbaticals from Fairfield doing research overseas under grants from the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies and his own Fulbright Scholarships. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Anton de Korn University in Suriname for his work in that country.

Dew was a talented classical pianist and a magnificent baritone. He rarely missed a reunion with his beloved Yale Russian Chorus. Hewas also a gifted athlete, playing basketball (star center for the Doctors of Dunk faculty team at Fairfield), volleyball (Doctors of Oink and coach of the first women's team at Fairfield), soccer and tennis. In his spare time, he could be found caring for his vegetable and flower gardens.

Dew met his future wife, Anke van Dijk of the Netherlands, at an international service program in 1955 aiding Latvian refugees in West Germany. They were married in 1960. Together they shared a passion for travel and exploration, for learning and for teaching.

Anke survives her husband, as do their sons, Edward M. (Mac) Dew IV of Brookfield, Connecticut, and Ian M. Dew of Woodbine, Maryland, their wives, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.