When Dan Webster joined the College of Lake County in Grayslake as its vice president of student affairs, he brought a wealth of experience from some turbulent years at Michigan State University.
Mr. Webster oversaw many of Michigan State’s most popular events and activities during the late 1960s and early ’70s. At the height of the Vietnam War, he arranged for controversial war activists Muhammad Ali and Jane Fonda to speak with students.
He also brought a number of big-name bands to perform on campus, groups like the Grateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone and Jefferson Airplane.
“I don’t know how he did it, but he pulled in some of the best talent from that era,” his son Randy said. “As a kid I remember standing next to him at a concert and watching Stevie Wonder perform on his 21st birthday. It was incredible.”
Mr. Webster also stood between students and the National Guard during a student protest at Michigan State, calling for freedom of speech while working toward a peaceful resolution.
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“He was a social activist at heart whose career led him to become a student advocate,” his son said.
Mr. Webster, 81, who retired as dean of students at the College of Lake County in 1997, died of natural causes Monday, Nov. 17, at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, his family said.
“Dan was all about the students — their needs, their challenges, what he could do to help them,” said Bob Hamilton, a retired chemistry professor at the College of Lake County. “Whether it was working toward better counseling services or more academic programs and student activities, his goal was to provide the best college experience possible.”
In addition to his student responsibilities, Mr. Webster also provided leadership training for fellow administrators, conducting workshops at his school and at other colleges throughout the state.
“He was approachable and knowledgeable, someone who could talk with anyone about anything, and the kids all loved him,” Hamilton said. “He kept on top of things because he had an open-door policy that encouraged people to say what was on their minds.”
Born in Ann Arbor, Mich., Mr. Webster spent part of his childhood in West Virginia before moving with his family to East Lansing, where his father, who taught physical education, was on the faculty at Michigan State.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Michigan State in 1955. That same year he joined the Air Force and was assigned for two years to a base in Kyushu, Japan. He continued on in the reserves as a recruiter for the Air Force Academy in Colorado for 23 years.
From 1957 to 1968, Mr. Webster taught American history at high schools in Okemos and Livonia, Mich., and during that time received a master’s degree in education from Michigan State.
From 1968 to 1972, he worked as the assistant director of student activities at Michigan State while earning a doctorate in education. He left to become vice president of student services at the College of Lake County, founded in 1968, and later was its dean of students.
“He loved his work and being around students,” said daughter Marian Hawkins. “It was something he was meant to do.”
Other survivors include his wife of 59 years, Diana; two sons, Trent and Brad; a daughter, Ruth Burlini; a brother, Dean Stoppel; a sister, Carol Van Patten; and 16 grandchildren.
Services were held.