Stephen Alan Gould, age 80, loving husband and best friend of Susan (Davis), passed away on August 1, 2025.
He was born on September 27, 1944, in East Aurora, New York, the third child of M. Irwin Gould and Lillian B. Gould. At the age of 10, the family moved to suburban St. Louis. Upon graduation from Ladue High School, he enrolled at Wabash College where he earned an AB in German Language. At Wabash, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the Delta Phi Alpha German Honorary Society. Following graduation, he was awarded a National Defense Education Act Fellowship to attend the University of Nebraska where he earned his M.A. and Ph.D in German Language and Literature.
Dr. Gould began his extraordinary 42-year career at Lakeland University in 1970 as an instructor of German language and literature. A gifted teacher with a sharp intellect, a wry sense of humor, and his ever-present pipe, he quickly earned the admiration of students and colleagues alike. Within a decade, he would leave the classroom to take on a series of challenges developing evening and off-campus programming for working adults. Under his leadership those programs eventually enabled thousands of adult learners to earn their bachelor’s degrees. From 1991 to 1993 he served as the Provost and Dean of Lakeland University-Japan and was then elected as the 14th President of Lakeland University until his retirement in 2012. But beyond numbers and buildings, Stephen was a scholar, a philosopher, a literary mind, and above all, a deeply human leader. His devotion to the liberal arts and to Lakeland’s mission was evident in everything he did.
Steve is survived by his beloved wife, Susan, with whom he shared 43 years of partnership, purpose, and devotion. He was survived by his two brothers, Win Gould of Punta Gorda, FL; and Tom Gould, of High Ridge, MO. He was a proud and loving father to daughter Stephanie (George) Nenni of Middleton, OH and their children, Will, Henry, Stella and Beatrice; daughter Molly (Morgan) Jones of Liberty Township, OH and their children, Lacey, Alex and Maeve; son Andrew (Crystal) Gould of Folsom, CA and their child, Seth; stepson Joseph (Michelle) Zuengler of Sheboygan Falls, WI and their children, Maxwell, Raena and Timothy; stepson Matthew (Joelle) Zuengler of De Pere, WI and their children Brittany, Emma, Natalie, and Tyler; and stepson Benjamin Zuengler of Greenbush, WI.
Above all else, Steve cherished time with his family and friends, traveling, and learning more about life through literature and sailing on his boat, Prime Time.
A celebration of his life and legacy will be at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Lakeland University.