Temple University, and Temple University Ambler in particular, has lost an iconic part of its history.

Dr. Eugene Udell, the first dean of the Ambler Campus after it became part of Temple, passed away Nov. 12. He was 92.

Dr. Udell is survived by his twin brother, Val Udell, his wife, Dr. Anita Udell, his daughter, Ruth Kunstadter, and his son, Jon Udell. Funeral services are private. A public gathering for Dr. Udell is being planned for a later date.

“Dr. Udell made a substantial difference here at Ambler, launching the campus, dealing with a number of difficult problems, and laying a solid foundation upon which to build,” said Temple University Ambler Dean James W. Hilty, Ph.D.. “Gene was particularly mindful of the important historical linkages between Temple and the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women and to our common goals of preserving and protecting the environment.

“Above all, he was a teacher and, like most good teachers, was ever mindful of the barriers students faced in reaching their educational goals,” added Hilty. “To that end, we are grateful to Gene and to his family for their willingness to endow a gift to assist students in removing or mitigating those barriers. Gene is remembered with affection by all who knew him. His service to Temple and to Temple Ambler will also be long remembered.”

Udell’s connections to Temple span decades and his love of Ambler brought him back to campus to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2001. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Temple in 1934 and 1938 respectively. His teaching career was interrupted in the 1940s by two years of service in the United States Navy as a pilot. He earned his doctorate in education from Columbia University in 1950. Udell began his professional association with Temple that same year, as a teacher in what would become the College of Education. He also founded Temple University Audiovisual Services in that period.

In 1958, Temple University began its relationship with the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women, which had been renamed Ambler Junior College. In 1961, Ambler Junior College received another name change, the Ambler Campus of Temple University, and officially became part of Temple.

Udell was asked to become the first dean of Temple University Ambler in 1963. He worked with Facilities Management to start the first inter-campus bus service at Ambler, a measure that greatly served students who needed to travel between Ambler and the Main Campus in Philadelphia. He also arranged to have a bus take students to and from the Ambler SEPTA train station.

Udell gained a reputation of working extremely well with students. In 1967, he was asked to leave Ambler and go to the Main Campus to become vice provost of Student Affairs. He remained in the position for about two years before becoming assistant vice president for Academic Affairs for another two years. He taught in the School of Education until his retirement from Temple in 1985.