Dr. Harvey Eric Rich, Emeritus Professor who taught his entire career in the Department of Sociology at California State University Northridge for nearly four decades, passed away on March 11, 2022. He was 78.
Harvey earned a bachelor's degree in Physics in 1965 from Alfred University. He earned his Master's degree in Physics in 1968 and Ph.D. in Sociology in 1972 from Purdue University. In 1982, while working full-time at CSUN, he entered UCLA's doctoral program in Environmental Science and Engineering (D. Env) due to his passion and concerns with environmental issues. Harvey completed his internship and achieved ABD status in 1987.
Harvey joined the Department of Sociology at CSUN in 1972. In his distinguished thirty-eight-year career at CSUN, he served as Chair of the Department of Sociology for six and half years, Professor, member of the Department Faculty Mentoring Committee, member of the Chair Advisory Committee, and founder and member of Social and Behavioral Sciences Center for Survey Research. During his tenure as department chair, one of Harvey's legacies was establishing the Annual Honors Reception, where students are recognized for their achievements.
In addition to his monumental leadership and service at CSUN, Harvey was actively involved in various professional associations, such as president and member of the California Sociological Association and member of the Governing Council of the Pacific Sociological Association.
Harvey is survived by his wife, Dr. Magnhild Lien, Professor Emeritus, Department of Mathematics at CSUN.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to 350.org or Oxfam America.
Statements from Faculty
I first met Harvey during my campus visit back in 2007 when he returned to the role of Chair during a one-year transitionary period for the department. Harvey's introduction to CSUN and willingness to answer my questions, played a big role in me accepting the position. Shortly after moving here, Harvey welcomed me right away through an invite to dinner at his and Magnhild's home in Thousand Oaks. He showed me around the beautiful landscape and bike paths that he would ride. Since I had moved to LA from NYC, Harvey told me interesting stories about his childhood growing up in Manhattan. We would also talk about all of the changes that the department and university underwent since his time joining the faculty in the early 1970's. Another memory that comes to mind is how happy Harvey was when he and Magnhild purchased their second home in Portland, a walkable city with a great public transportation system. Harvey retired in 2009, just one year after I joined the faculty, however he would often come back to campus to visit. I remember chatting frequently with him about all of the activities he was engaged in during his retirement. Harvey always struck me as a positive person who made the most of life. He will be missed. Lauren McDonald, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
Harvey was so kind to me when I joined the department. I still remember when he asked to pick up a chair for my new office to really take my time because I was "going to use it for many years" and I could pick "whatever I wanted, except for the ones that were one thousand dollars". It was a good reminder that he had total confidence in me and that I was going to stay for long and going to get tenure and that he valued me. One day he also pulled me aside and said that I was new, but I had a voice. He had a kindness and an understated sense of humor that made him so welcoming and approachable. I have missed you, Harvey. Ana Prata, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Sociology
Harvey was the Department Chair when Vickie and I were hired in 1997. He was part of our respective careers at CSUN. I was impressed with his story-telling style. He talked about things, including his family and his vacation home in Frazier Park, every time we saw each other. Victor Shaw, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology & Justice Studies
I was hired when Harvey was the Department Chair. I like four things the most under his leadership:
1. In my early years as an Assistant Professor, he arranged Department faculty members talked about their research to give us some ideas at the Department meeting. For example, Vince talked about his publications. He also showed us ASA publication guidebook that has many well-known sociological journals listed, and it helped me a lot for which journals I should submit my papers.
2. He invited outside scholars to give honor students talks at the honor student dinners.
3. He generously opened his house several times for the department Christmas parties and opened his mountain cabin for the Department faculty hiking.
4. He encouraged us to attend American Sociological meetings and even International Sociological Association congresses.
I enjoyed being a faculty member under his leadership. We will miss you Harvey! Wen C. Wang, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Sociology
Harvey was the chair who hired me. From the start, it was clear that he had a passion for the department as a whole above and beyond its individual members. We were all asked to take a class schedule that included one "inconvenience" for the good of the department and which would bring us to campus three days a week. Back then, we could either do MWF classes or do TR classes with a night class on Monday or Wednesday. At the time, I didn't think a lot of it one way or the other, but now as a chair, I can see that such requests were an investment for the overall benefit of the department. He was organized and detail-oriented at a time when he didn't have to be, and we all benefited from that in the long run. He was involved and energetic in managing and growing the Department of Sociology. In particular, he was a strong advocate for faculty positions and oversaw the hiring of a large number of us. To be honest, he and I butted heads from time to time, but when we sat down to really talk about those areas in which we didn't agree, it was clear that he was coming from a committed love for the department and a great deal of campus experience that I did not have at the time. I always respected Harvey, and in the end, I respected him more deeply because over the years we came to see that we shared a common desire for the good of the department. Harvey was supportive of us as newer faculty and always had an anecdote or piece of advice that helped us gain a different perspective on things. He had a genuine interest in what we were doing which continued after he had retired and after I left the department to start Criminology and Justice Studies. The department was well run when he was chair, and the faculty within it benefited greatly from the insistence that we focus on the department as a living entity as much, if not more, than we focused on ourselves. Being hired into a new tenure track position brought with it the usual anxieties and learning curves, but being hired into CSUN's Department of Sociology with Harvey as chair meant that I was in a department that was invested in me as a new, untenured faculty member. His leadership was essential to the success of the department and our successes as faculty within the department. There are pieces of Harvey's style and priorities that I bring to my own position as a department chair. I learned a great deal watching him, and I wish I had the opportunity to gain more of his wisdom. He will be missed. Vickie Jensen, PhD., Chair and Professor, Department of Criminology and Justice Studies
It was a warm afternoon in the spring of 1972, as the semester was winding down at CSUN. I had been teaching part-time while in the PhD program at UCLA. The then chair, Al Peirce, asked me into his office to see if I wanted to join the department as a full-time tenured track faculty member. He told me that two others had also been recruited that year. One was a gentleman from Purdue University by the name of Harvey Rich.
That was the first time I heard his name. Little did I know that I would spend the better part of the next 40 years as friend, colleague, and confident of this man. From the early days of department committees to the various university positions, to his many years as Chair of the department, he was humble, honorable, and empathetic.
Upon his retirement, I was asked to give his going away speech for the department. I will forever remember one of the stories I told at that send-off. Harvey often gave parties at his home in Thousand Oaks. One happened to be for his birthday. I was late in starting that day and had not had the time to buy a present. However, knowing that Harvey was nothing short of a Sommelier, and that I knew nothing, I nevertheless quickly stopped at a liquor store to buy a bottle of Cabernet. Not finding anything that looked sophisticated enough, I quickly grabbed the last bottle of Dom Perignon, figuring that although it was probably a bad year for this bottle of Champagne, at least he might be impressed at the cost.
Upon arriving at his house, I quickly pulled out the wrapped bottle. I wanted him to know what I had purchased so I said, “Aren’t you going to unwrap it”. He obliged and said, “Of course”. I cringed as he unwrapped the bottle, half-expecting him to say, “Nice try”. Instead, his eyes widened as he said “Jerry, I had no idea you knew your Champagnes; this is one of the best years in DP history”, or words to that effect. I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was a random choice and so simply said, “I try”.
Such was Harvey, analytical but supportive, rational but engaged, and a leader but with understanding. His personality, skills, and desire to further the cause of higher education will certainly be missed, standing as a constant reminder (with apologies to John Dunn) that no person is an island. As Harvey moves on from this life, higher education, the community of sociology, and humankind are not the same. Jerald Schutte, Ph.D., Lecturer, Department of Sociology
Harvey was the person who hired me to teach in the sociology department way back when and served as chair for my first ten years at CSUN. The vast majority of people who worked with him in this capacity found him to be a highly competent manager. He was a strong and secure person who had little fear and wasn’t afraid to stand up and support faculty. Kris Kouri, Ph.D., Lecturer, Department of Sociology
I first met Harvey in the summer of 2008.
We had a lot in common: born in New York State and received the PhD at Purdue, studied with some of same scholars and shared a heavy quant background, Harvey started in Physics, and I started in Computer Science.
Afterwards, we also both proceeded to UCLA with Harvey in the Environmental Science Department and many years later I with National Institutes Health in the School of Public Health.
I remember talking at great length in the office with Harvey about CSUN.
Harvey was a consummate administrator and scholar.
There are so many wonderful and very funny stories he shared.
Times like these really bring home that I spent some of the best moments of my life with Harvey.
I'll remember his kindness, humor, and laughter.
When I was younger the pages turned slowly and now, they turn too fast.
Harvey will always remain in my heart and my thoughts. David Bogumil, Ph.D., Lecturer, Department of Sociology