The Cedar Crest College Community mourns the loss of one of Cedar Crest College’s most beloved faculty members, Dr. Marion Kayhart, Professor Emerita of Biology, who passed away peacefully on May 15, 2025.
Dr. Kayhart was a true icon—dedicated educator, trailblazer in science, and cherished mentor to generations of Cedar Crest students. She began teaching at the College in 1954 and served as Chair of the Biology Department for most of her nearly 40-year tenure before retiring in 1993. She was instrumental in the development of several academic programs, including genetic engineering technology, nuclear medicine technology, and environmental studies—expanding the College’s reach and relevance in the sciences.
Her impact extended well beyond the classroom. She was the first faculty member ever elected to the Board of Trustees, and she remained an engaged and generous member of the community long after her retirement. Dr. Kayhart was known for her ability to inspire and connect with her students, earning the Alumnae Association Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1993 and the Lehigh Valley Association of Academic Women’s Academic Woman of the Year Award that same year. She also received the Drew University Alumni Achievement Award in Science in 1970 and the Cedar Crest Associates’ Award of Gratitude in 2020.
Dr. Kayhart’s life was a testament to resilience, intellectual curiosity, and leadership. She was the only woman in her PhD cohort at the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied the effects of hydrogen bombs on wasps, and was later selected as one of just 20 professors nationwide to participate in a prestigious National Science Foundation program at Harvard Medical School.
Her influence continued well into retirement. Since 2004, she had been an active member of the Luther Crest Senior Living Community, where she edited the community newspaper, chaired the Environment Committee, and founded the Kayhart Arboretum in 2015. Under her leadership, it became one of only 350 accredited arboreta worldwide and a lasting symbol of her lifelong love for science, nature, and community. She also served on the boards of Allentown Osteopathic Hospital and Phoebe Ministries and was engaged with the Ethics Institute for Cedar Crest College and Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Dr. Kayhart’s remarkable legacy will be honored during Reunion Weekend 2025, where the College will formally announce the Dr. Marion Kayhart Endowed Professorship in Biological Sciences—a lasting tribute to her contributions to the sciences and to Cedar Crest College.
Our thoughts are with Dr. Kayhart’s family, friends, colleagues, and all whose lives she touched in this difficult time.
For those who’d like to share a favorite memory or note of gratitude, please visit www.cedarcrest.edu/MemoryBook. These submissions will be presented to Dr. Kayhart’s family after Reunion Weekend.