Skip To Content
Cal Poly Pomona

PolyCentric University News Center

Main Menu
  • About Our University
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Campus Life
  • Athletics
  • Giving
  • Expand/Collapse Menu
Browse: Home / 2021 / July / In Memoriam: Professor Emeritus David Levering

Menu

  • About
    • Submissions
    • Contact
    • Department of Strategic Communications
    • PolyCentric
  • News
    • Browse by Topic
    • View All Stories
    • In Memoriam
    • Archives
  • Achievements
  • Announcements
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Social Media Directory
  • Events
  • For the Media

In Memoriam: Professor Emeritus David Levering

Posted on July 16, 2021

Pictured from left to right: Drew Fuller, Todd Menzing and David Levering. [11:11 AM] Mercedes Quiroz Photo credit: Professor John Lloyd, Department of History

Beloved Professor Emeritus David Levering, who taught history and was instrumental in the Department of History’s foundation, died on July 11.

Levering began his career at Cal Poly Pomona in the early 1960s. According to the history department timeline, Levering created the world civilization courses in 1966 in place of the western civilization course; Cal Poly Pomona was one of the first universities to make this change.

“He was a leader in a nation-wide effort to upgrade and update the study of history,” said History Professor Emeritus John Moore.

Aside from his contributions to the curriculum, students and faculty admired Levering’s dedication to his work.  He was an early recipient of the “Distinguished Teacher Award.”

His impact reached beyond the department and college community. Many of his colleagues describe Levering, who earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Redlands and his Ph.D.  from Claremont Graduate University, as a pillar of inspiration, a kind-hearted, driven person whose ambition and talent were unmatched.

“David was a remarkable combination of intellect and action, sustained by unfailing grace and good humor. While we will indeed miss him terribly, much of what he accomplished still stands as a tribute and a reminder of what he accomplished,” said Richard L. Johnson, history professor emeritus.

“David was a person of many, many talents. Indeed, during David’s early years at Cal Poly Pomona, the Danforth Foundation reached out and made him a Danforth Associate, honoring him as one who improved the quality of teaching and learning on a university campus.  They recognized in David a person of great intellect who also could engage students and colleagues in mutual respect. That quality was present throughout his life. It is rare to find a person of deep political and social convictions who also recognized and respected the worth of people with whom he disagreed,” Johnson added.

Moore lauded Levering’s activism.

“In addition to being a first-rate teacher, he was quite active in faculty matters, at one point serving as popular president of the faculty union,” Moore said “He was also a key figure in the University’s Campus Forum project, which, in the 1970s and 1980s brought together scholars from a variety of disciplines to make presentations at well-attended weekly faculty luncheon meetings.”

Levering also tried his hand at politics. In 1996, he was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives from Cal Poly Pomona’s Congressional district.

“Although he lost to incumbent David Drier, he ran one of the best (and most decent and intelligent) campaigns in the long history of the district being overwhelmingly Republican,” Moore said.

“I think it is fair to say that David was one of a kind. He was certainly one of the most popular individuals ever among the faculty,” Moore added “He had a novel and keen understanding of the academic and teaching profession, and his colleagues tended to look to him for guidance. He also had plentiful and very interesting friendships beyond Cal Poly Pomona, and he pursued worthy and, I would say, humanitarian, non-academic activities outside the university—right up to his final days. He was interested in, and very knowledgeable about, politics, music (he organized his own dance band, where he played the drums, early in his life), art, sports and more.”

Moore recounted that as a graduate student studying the American founders, Levering became interested in the libraries they had assembled, particularly the one belonging to Thomas Jefferson, whose collection became the base of the Library of Congress.

“Thus his own library was, by most appearances, unmatched among his colleagues and friends.” Moore said of Levering. “All of that, and his urbane wit, sophisticated charm, matchless energy, and persistent smile, made him the kind of person one wanted always to be around. And, I have barely touched the surface. We will all miss him. We have profited by having known him.”

Posted in In Memoriam, News | Tags Campus Forum project, CLASS, College of Letters, College of Letters Arts & Social Sciences, College of Letters Arts and Social Sciences, Distinguished Teacher Award, history, history department, History Professor Emeritus John Moore, in memoriam, Professor Emeritus David Levering, world civilization

POPULAR

  • The Road to Reclamation float going down Colorado Blvd in Pasadena during the Rose Parade.

    Cal Poly 2023 Rose Float Wins Extraordinaire Award

    3081 views / Posted January 2, 2023
  • Billy Bronco at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Silver Streak rapid bus line.

    CPP to DTLA: Silver Streak Bus Stop Arrives on Campus

    2118 views / Posted January 23, 2023
  • The landscape design plan for the former CLA Tower site centers on tiered terraces and a shaded overlook.

    New Park at 98 Provides Green Space and Event Space for Campus Community

    1972 views / Posted April 4, 2023
  • Carl Rucker

    Distinguished Alumnus, Boeing Executive to Receive Honorary Doctorate

    1183 views / Posted March 13, 2023
  • Commencement Roundup: New CPP Letters at Park at 98, Use Biodegradable Confetti

    1092 views / Posted May 4, 2023

Cal Poly Pomona in the News »

“Look at This!”: A sneak peek of CPP commencement ceremonies (CBS-2/KCAL-9)

“Eye in the Sky” news reporter and cameraman Desmond Shaw gives the rundown on Cal Poly Pomona’s history and its status as the nation’s top polytechnic university in social mobility as…

Graduation Ceremonies at Cal Poly Pomona (“Today in LA,” NBC-4)


Hispanics stand out among 7,500 Cal Poly Pomona graduates (Univision 34)


Cal Poly Pomona celebrates 7,500 graduate at 2023 ceremonies (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)


CPP grad Sofia Rosales graduates from CPP and makes a positive impact (Fontana Herald News)


Tags
Campus Forum project, CLASS, College of Letters, College of Letters Arts & Social Sciences, College of Letters Arts and Social Sciences, Distinguished Teacher Award, history, history department, History Professor Emeritus John Moore, in memoriam, Professor Emeritus David Levering, world civilization
About Cal Poly Pomona Feedback Privacy Accessibility Document Readers

3801 West Temple Avenue,Pomona, CA 91768

©2021 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

All Rights Reserved