Condolences on the Passing of Dr. Joseph Elder
January 29th, 2025
Photo thanks to University of Wisconsin.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Joseph Elder ‘51, Oberlin Shansi Rep to India from 1951 to 1954. Joe was a dedicated educator and humanitarian who shaped the lives of students, emerging scholars, and communities globally. As a critical figure in the establishment of modern South Asian Studies in North America, Joe was pivotal in establishing opportunities for young people to engage in India and Nepal. He co-founded the American Institution of Indian Studies and established the University of Wisconsin’s College Year in India Program, which shaped lives, scholarship, and lifelong friendships across borders.
Joe helped pioneer a new era for Shansi. In 1951, Joe, his wife Joann, and Richard Dudley ‘51 traveled to South India, via ship, to serve as Oberlin Shansi's first Fellows in Madurai. What started as an experiment in India - the first country other than China to host Shansi Reps - became a watershed moment in academic and professional exchanges between the US and South Asia.
Joe was an avid storyteller, who brought experiences of India to life. His wife Joann, who passed in 2022, was an instrumental collaborator in his work and his mentorship of countless Shansi Reps and Fellows. Their loss is felt deeply across the Shansi Community.
Oberlin Shansi Senior Director, Ted Samuel offered the following remembrance. “Joe Elder changed my life, long before I worked at Shansi. As a student on the College Year in India Program more than 20 years ago, Joe was invested in my research, my process of reconnecting to my Tamil Heritage, and my growth as a scholar and person. I am so lucky to have had an icon in South Asian Studies and international exchange mentor me.”
Lifelong friends John Elder ‘53 and Anne Elder ‘53 reflect on his lasting impact. “He exuded love, and brought love out of all those he encountered. He leaves a great gap, and we will miss him. But we are ever so grateful to have been blessed by knowing him!”
To read more about Joe’s work and life, please visit the link below:
Joe and Joann with their daughter, Shonti Elder.