Page Professor Emeritus Gene Lamke Retires in May After 52 Years of Service
After teaching at San Diego State University in seven different decades (1960s to the 2020s), with classes in over 104 semesters including summers, Gene Lamke, professor emeritus in the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, will retire in May 2021.
Lamke also serves as the project director of Camp Able, an aquatic-based beach day camp for children, youth, and adults with disabilities located at Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado.
Lampke’s journey at SDSU began in 1968, when he worked on his master's degree and served as a graduate assistant. In 1969, he became a full-time faculty member and began teaching and directing in the recreation area within the Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.
Lamke has been selected as the “Most Influential Faculty Member” by the Outstanding Graduating Senior on 13 different occasions, and was the first faculty member to receive the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts Outstanding Faculty Award in 1984.
“He’s probably one of the most humble and nicest people I’ve ever met, in every way,” Director of the School of HTM Carl Winston said.
“He just loves students and is so patient, sympathetic, caring...the fact that he’s educated three generations of people in his lifetime is outstanding,” Winston said.
Lamke said he is most proud of the way in which the School of HTM has grown and developed throughout his time at SDSU.
“My colleagues over these 50+ years have been endless in their support and mentoring of me, and they are really responsible in helping me to become a better educator through their tireless commitment to student development.”
During his time as an educator, he has most enjoyed the students as they’ve provided him with endless joy.
“I have been blessed to have terrific students that have become life-long learners and graduated to become outstanding professionals in the recreation, leisure studies, hospitality, and tourism industries,” Lamke said.
Mercedes Staples, women’s basketball player and third year, has had recreation and tourism management classes with Lamke since spring 2020 and said Lamke has impacted her studies immensely.
“He is very good at making class so entertaining and knows how to make your studies enjoyable,” Staples said. “He had a lot of athletes in his classes and he always knew how to work with us and make sure we weren’t missing out on his classes,” Staples said.
Staples also said the biggest lesson she learned from Lamke is to enjoy life.
“When he talked about places he has traveled or about the places here in California that are recreational….you could tell he had a passion for all of it, he made you want to go and do the most fun things in life and do them while you can,” Staples said.
Student success has always been a priority for Lamke and others within the School of HTM, and he hopes his overwhelming commitment to student success will be his lasting impact.
Over the years, Lamke has learned so much from his students and has enjoyed “working with them in developing their mastery of course content.”
As for Lamke’s plans after retirement, he intends to make beneficial contributions and give back to his community.
“I owe a lot to people, more than I can ever repay, including my family and close colleagues … [and plan] to pay forward all of the wonderful experiences and opportunities I have had at SDSU and in the greater San Diego community.”
The SDSU College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts wishes him well in his retirement.
The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.