Wallace (Wally) Leonard Pretzer, of Bowling Green, Ohio, died on October 31st, age 89, at Bridge Hospice in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Wally, a BGSU Professor Emeritus of English, was notable for the international scope of his students who became lifelong friends, admirers, and loyal supporters. Students from his 1983 pioneering class in Xi’an, China have stayed in touch. He would greet visiting former Chinese students, now professionals living in America, China, Canada and elsewhere by their Chinese, and Anglicized names. He also had lifelong friends among Indian students, many of them now professionals and college professors and frequent visitors. Wally was a polka lover, faithfully attending local polka festivals and teaching scores of willing Asian students how to polka.
Born August 5, 1930, in Hemlock, Michigan, he was the son of Leonard and Hilda Dittman Pretzer. He graduated from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, with a B.A. in English and the University of Michigan, with an M.A. and Ed.D in English. He attended the University of Muenster, Westphalia, Germany, 1952-3. Wally served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955 in Germany. In 1963, he joined the Department of English at BGSU where he primarily taught courses in English linguistics and English as a Foreign/Second Language, to both undergraduates and graduate students, until his retirement in 1992.
He set up and coordinated the Program in English as a Foreign/Second Language, 1965-1992. He served as Coordinator and Faculty Supervisor of the General Studies Writing Program from 1972-1979. He was a charter member of both the international organizations, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and its affiliate Ohio TESOL, which he served as President (1979-1980) and from which he received its Distinguished Service Award. He belonged to other professional organizations related to teaching English to both native and non-native speakers of English.
As a foreign expert on teaching writing and applied English linguistics/methods in teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language in China (1983-84), he, with three others, pioneered the BGSU-Xi’an Foreign Language University Faculty Exchange Program. In 1986, he was honored (in absentia ) as a Model Teacher by the Xi’an Foreign Languages University. The student exchange program with Xi’an University started in 1989. On June 1, 2019 a reunion celebrating the thirty-six year old faculty and student exchange programs between BGSU and the Xi’an International Studies University in Xi’an, China, was held at the Mileti Alumni Center. Wally was a star.
Wally met his future wife, Diane Goodrich Pretzer, a professor of Romance Languages, in Bowling Green, OH, and they married in Basel, Switzerland in 1966. During fifty years of marriage they travelled extensively, attending many student weddings nationally and internationally. They were enthusiastic supporters of the performing arts both at the university and regionally. Diane predeceased Wally in 2017. He is survived by his sister Dona Durow, of Saginaw, Michigan, two nieces, many great and great great nieces and nephews.
Wally cared passionately about quality of life whether it was ‘town or gown.’ He eloquently expressed his opinions in Letters to the Editor on topics ranging from The Gish Theatre to the Downtown Common Space.
To honor his request, neither a funeral or memorial service will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bowling Green State University Foundation (The Pretzer Fund), Valparaiso University (The English Department), the University of Michigan (The English Language Institution), the Xi’an Foreign Languages University (English Department or Tourism Department), or to the donor’s choice.
