October 25, 1939 - May 4, 2024
Alcyone Meredith Scott, PhD, 84 of Fremont
Died May 4 at Pathfinder Place in Fremont, Nebraska
Alcyone Meredith Scott (Dr. Scott) was born October 25, 1939 to Meredith Lewis and Ernest Peck Scott of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, baby sister to Ellen, Ernest, and Marvin. Being the last of four children must have helped develop her sharp wit, irreverence and other endearing qualities. She enjoyed recounting childhood tales of being spoiled by her father, instigating mischief, participating in sibling rivalry and tagging along with her mother to visit shut-ins. She admired her teachers at Cleveland Lutheran High School. Most summers throughout her life were spent in Michigan with family which eventually grew to include 22 nieces and nephews. ''Aunt Alcy'' adored them all. She loved walking the lane down to the lake and was famous for her jam and blueberry pies, both made over a kerosene stove. Her summers also included time in Wisconsin entertaining friends and neighbors at her cottage, what had once been the boys' dorm of a summer arts camp.
Alcyone earned her undergraduate degree in English and Humanities from Wittenberg University in Ohio, then her Master's and PhD in History of Culture from the University of Chicago. After college, she worked with the Lutheran church in West Berlin, Germany, engaging youth in activities to keep them off the streets. A high point during this time was assisting Martin Luther King, Jr. navigate Checkpoint Charlie to give his speech in East Berlin in 1964. Upon her return to the United States, and much to her mother's chagrin, she lived in New York City for a year working for Doubleday Books. In 1966, she moved to Fremont, Nebraska to begin what would be a 45-year teaching career at Midland Lutheran College (now Midland University).
Alcyone was passionate about the transformative power of a liberal arts education and co-founded a course called ''Odyssey in the Human Spirit,'' serving as its founding director. For decades this course served as the cornerstone for Midland's liberal arts coursework, and Alcyone could be seen giving the Queen Elizabeth I presentation (in costume, of course). She taught numerous other courses, including World Literature, Theology and Literature, Ethics in Literature, Ethics in Film, Russian Literature, and more. In 1987-1988, she took a sabbatical to teach at the University of Rostock in East Germany. Closer to home, she taught on the Winnebago reservation. A staunch supporter of Midland's mission, Alcyone was arguably the most regular attendee at Chapel. Alcyone sponsored several student organizations and served in numerous faculty leadership positions at Midland, including as Chair of the English Department and as Faculty Chair numerous times throughout her career. She was an active scholar, presenting papers regularly.
Alcyone enjoyed introducing students to the wonder of learning through travel and led numerous courses to China, India, Kenya and Tanzania, Brazil, Peru, the Baltics, Russia, Eastern Europe, Honduras, and more. She was one of the first faculty members to encourage service as part of the learning experience, leading service-learning courses both in the US and abroad. In 1987, Alcyone received the Zimmerman Distinguished Professor Award in recognition of her outstanding teaching and commitment to the Liberal Arts. She expected much from her students and herself - and both delivered.
While at Midland, Alcyone helped to start an English literacy program for the parents of students at Washington Elementary in Fremont and continued tutoring there for years into her retirement. After her retirement in 2011, Alcyone stayed active with the art department at Midland where she enjoyed working alongside students as she pursued her interest in ceramics. In 2018, Alcyone came out of retirement long enough to co-teach one last travel course in the Philippines. In a recent homecoming talk to alumni at Midland, she emphasized what a privilege and honor it had been that she had been allowed to teach for her career.
Alcyone's friends, colleagues, and students will remember that her little red house on D St. was always open and the warm hospitality received by all who entered.
Alcyone maintained membership in her childhood church throughout her lifetime, Messiah Lutheran Church in Cleveland, Ohio. She joined Sinai Lutheran Church, Fremont, in 2002 where she sang in the choir and occasionally taught adult forums.
Alcyone is survived by 21 of her beloved nieces and nephews: Paul ''David'' (Julie) Ludwig, Mark (Cheryl) Ludwig, Meredith Ludwig, Eric (Nancy) Ludwig, ''Kim'' (Roger) Cronkright, Anne (Lance) Taylor, Charles Ludwig, Elizabeth Fanning, Meg (Douglas) Shipp, Sally (Patrick) Sabo, Katie (Terry) Scott, Ellen Scott-Ioakimedes, Hans Scott, Barbara (Michael) Kapp, Steven (Julie) Scott, Martha Scott, Susan ''Godsy'' (Michael) Nemeth, Robert ''Bob'' (Julie ) Scott, Andrew ''Andy'' (Heather) Scott, Patrick (Amber) Scott, and Christy (Jay) Cashman, and many colleagues and dear friends.
Alcyone was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ellen Ludwig, brothers Ernest Scott and Marvin Scott, and nephew David Bruce Ludwig.
A world traveler in life, Alcyone is now free of these earthly bonds and holding court and occasionally making mischief somewhere in the great beyond.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be directed to Midland University Humanities Department or to the Dodge County Humane Society in honor of Misha, Alcyone's beloved, loyal feline companion of two decades.
A celebration of her life will be held June 22, 2024 beginning at 4:00 pm at Sinai Lutheran Church, Fremont, Nebraska.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Condolences(8)
Emily Peterson
Sauk Rapids, MN Sunday, May 12, 2024 To Alcyone's (Dr. Scott to me) family and friends who miss her in their day-to-day, you know the blessing she was and that she impacted others through her work and her generosity. She lived the call to be God’s hands and feet in the world; thanks be to God for her influence on so many lives.Kent Lund
Denver, CO Sunday, May 12, 2024 I agree wholeheartedly with all of the thoughtful Condolences written above. Dr. Scott was an unmatched academic and humanist exemplar. I was always struck by her great first name, her wild hair, her big laugh, and how she filled a room with her powerful presence! Alcyone always had something thoughtful to say about life’s most important, substantive subjects. As a Midland student, I took two of her classes: Religion and Literature and Shakespeare. She was an excellent teacher, demanding and tough, but fair. Nancy Schroeder said it perfectly: Alcyone challenged all of us to THINK!! Alcyone’s obituary states accurately that she expected much of herself and her students, and she got it! In life, there are only a precious few truly remarkable people whom we are blessed to know. Alcyone was one of those extremely rare, special people. Thanks Alcyone, and god bless you in heaven.Bill Northrup
Nashville, TN Sunday, May 12, 2024 I very much enjoyed sharing summer visits with “Alcy” while visiting her home nearby Lake 14 in Michigan.Jenny Peterson Marburger
, Friday, May 10, 2024 What is a teacher? (See photo of Dr. Scott)She was the definition of a teacher both in and out of the classroom. She believed in every student. She was tough and honest, but in a gentle way. She kept you laughing and challenged the world.
The world lost a wonderful human. The symbolism in the fact that you were called home on May the 4th is that, like Obi Wan Kenobi, you taught us that what we needed in this world was already living inside of us. We can always hear your words whispering in our ear that we are strong enough, smart enough, and wonderful enough to do great things.
May the 4th be with you, Dr. Scott. And also with all of you. Live your days the Dr. Scott way, full of joy, laughter, and adventure. Farewell, Dr. Scott. I will listen for your voice in the wind and look for you in the pages I read. Thanks for everything!
Blake Harper
Boalsburg, PA Friday, May 10, 2024 Dr. Scott was a force of nature. Fiercely intelligent. Unapologetically strong. Generous to a fault. Impish in her willingness to engage your mind and challenge your beliefs. A strong woman and role model and a champion for liberal arts education. The world - Fremont, Midland, her former students and the lives that we've all built - is a better place for having had Dr. Scott.While I was at Midland (1995-99), I never took a classroom course with her as the professor, yet she had an outsized impact on my education and life today. I was fortunate to travel with her to Brazil over interim in 1999. Candidly, I didn't "enjoy" that trip in real time. As a kid born and raised in Fremont, who had never traveled (not even to attend college), I was uncomfortable and scared most of the trip. But in retrospect, Brazil 1999 opened my mind and heart to "the world" and I learned that people - regardless of race, color, or national origin - have a lot more in common than the news headlines would have you believe. That's a more valuable lesson than anything I learned in Swanson Hall.
The past few weeks, I've been thinking about reaching out to Dr. Scott. I'd never shared how much I admired and appreciated her. I'm gutted to learn that I waited too long. Hug your people. Today.
John Groh
Valentine, NE Tuesday, May 7, 2024 Alcyone--aka Dr. Scott--was one of the memorable professors I had during my college years. Her "American Literature of the 60's" class was most memorable. Opening up - or exposing all of us the were fortunate enough to get into her class, to authors that I still read and enjoy today well into my senior life.Thank you Alcyone. Not many like you. Your laugh infected us all, as did your pushing us always to achieve more.
Nancy Schroeder
Blair, NE Sunday, May 5, 2024 Remembering Dr. Scott for her outstanding service to Midland students always challenging us to THINK. It is heartbreaking that she and my good friend and her student Pastor Nancy Whalley Jensen died within 24 hours of one another. Throughout our later years. We enjoyed many visits and lunches with Alcyone and our Midland bunch from 1971-75. God bless her for so many wonderful memories and a Legacy of TEACHING.Nancy Brand Schroeder
Midland '75
James McCarthy
Omaha, NE Saturday, May 4, 2024 Last of a generation. Rest in peace