Professor Robert Love was devoted to his students and to so many of them he was more than a teacher. He also guided and inspired them during his time teaching and leading at Alfred State.
Professor Love had a profound impact on the education and career path for 1965 Medical Technology major Jeanne Gresko Boehlecke. Love became a mentor to Boehlecke and helped guide her into a successful career of helping others.
His impact inspired her to establish the Robert Love Memorial Endowed Scholarship to help the next generation of health care students.
Boehlecke grew up in Johnson City, NY and became aware of Alfred State by chance. While on a tour of another college campus she asked the tour guide why she had decided to attend that college. The guide replied,” I would rather have attended Alfred State, but I wasn’t accepted there.” Boehlecke went to her high school counselor, learned more about Alfred, applied, and was accepted.
During her time at Alfred, Professor Love taught her biochemistry and served as her advisor. After graduating, she wanted to continue her education at the University of Buffalo, but due to a shortage of on-campus housing for female students UB stated she could not be admitted at that time.
“I felt he (Professor Love) would have answers to my questions and I could do whatever he suggested with confidence it would be the right thing for me. He suggested I get a job in Buffalo and take classes at night. I did that and completed my degree.” Jeanne Gresko-Boehlecke
She went to Professor Love for advice because “I felt he would have answers to my questions and I could do whatever he suggested with confidence it would be the right thing for me. He suggested I get a job in Buffalo and take classes at night. I did that and completed my degree.”
She worked as a medical technologist for many years and then transitioned to counseling and health coaching after earning a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.
Retired now and living in Chapel Hill, NC, Boehlecke was drawn to keeping the legacy of Professor Love alive while helping others. “Professor Love established a scholarship to help nurses he was mentoring. That scholarship ended when he died so I thought it would be nice if we could start an endowed scholarship.”
Scholarships from the $100,000 endowment will be given to students in nursing or allied health fields who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is to be used for non-tuition expenses and costs associated with attending Alfred State (tools, housing, meal plan, fees).
Boehlecke is excited to support the next generation of students heading into medical careers. “To know that I have helped someone finish their degree will please me so much.”
About Professor Love
Love joined the Alfred State faculty in 1954. He served as a Professor of Biochemistry, Chairman of the Health Technologies Division, and Dean of School of Allied Health. He served as Dean for seventeen years.
His professional reputation was recognized at state and national levels through publications in texts and journals. He was a caring mentor to mentor to so many students.
Love graduated with multiple degrees from Syracuse University’s College of Medicine including a Master of Science Degree in Education. He also studied Radiation Biology at Cornell University as a graduate student and conducted research at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo.
Join In
Boehlecke is excited to see the impact of her gift but knows that she is not the only one that benefited from the teaching, guidance, and mentoring of Professor Love. She would love others to join in and contribute to the Robert Love Memorial Endowed Scholarship.