Graduate School of Education: 0606lambert.html

More than 200 associates of Nadine Lambert, many of them current and former students, honored the Graduate School of Education professor’s life at a memorial at UC Berkeley’s International House auditorium on May 23.

With slides of Lambert’s family, friends and students as backdrop, GSE Dean David Pearson recalled Lambert’s legacy and introduced eight speakers from different branches of Lambert’s life.

UC Davis education professor Jonathan Sandoval, the first graduate student in Lambert’s School Psychology Program in 1965, remembered Lambert’s "vision and enthusiasm… She influenced me in incalculable ways and presented a compass for me to follow."

Joseph Duggan, UC Berkeley professor of Comparative Literature and French and Associate Dean of the Graduate Division, described his former Graduate Council colleague "as the model of the just observer, who loved UC Berkeley and was loved by the University in return."

GSE professor Bernard Gifford met Lambert in 1983 when he began his tenure as Dean of the School of Education, and Lambert had been running the School Psychology Program for 17 years. Gifford credits Lambert for the success of Joint Doctoral Program in Leadership for Educational Equity after she became advisor to the program.

Like Gifford, Geraldine Clifford shared Lambert’s love of food, wine, mystery novels and, especially the Cal football and basketball games they attended regularly. Clifford was also the only other tenured female professor in the School of Education when the two met in 1964. "We were the odd couple," Clifford said. "There were 45 men in suits and us." While Clifford "really" retired in 1994, Lambert spent another 13 years on recall appointment. “I asked her why don’t you really retire?, Clifford recalled. "I wish she’d have taken my advice that day [on April 26, the day Lambert died], but it [going to work] was in her character. Nadine was a workaholic."

Jennifer Selke, a recent graduate of the School Psychology Program, only knew the "retired" Lambert. When she chose to go into the recreation field, Selke remembers Lambert teasing her: "When’s this camp phase going to end?" But the Strawberry Canyon Youth Program Director said that her fondest memories are Lambert’s "unconditional support. She was the consummate advocate."

Nadine’s son, Jeffery Lambert recalled funny stories about school outings with his mother: seeing smoke pour out of the UC Berkeley library, finding out about tear gas and learning to spell Ph.D. on cakes decorated for graduates at the Virginia Bakery.

Lambert’s daughter, Laura Allan, a singer, offered an inspirational tribute near the close of the ceremony: "We’re all going to go on because that’s what she would have wanted."

After Pearson concluded the public portion of the ceremony by encouraging the audience to give "Lambert’s life and legacy a standing ovation," the visitors enjoyed food and refreshments, became reacquainted and shared memories of Lambert.

A "virtual memorial" website has been created for visitors to share memories, photos and other information. In addition, a memorial fund has been established at the Graduate School of Education to honor Dr. Lambert’s legacy by supporting fellowships in the School Psychology Program.