John Haubenstricker, a long-time Kinesiology scholar and leader, died on March 13, 2023.
Haubenstricker joined the college in 1973 and remained in various research, teaching and leadership roles until his retirement in 2003.
“He was always willing to do what was best for the department, no matter the role, no matter the task,” said Professor Emerita Deb Feltz. She served as department chairperson during much of Haubenstricker’s tenure. “It was always: ‘OK, I’ll step up. We’re all in this together.’ He had a terrific sense of team spirit, a quiet competence and a quick wit.”
Historical movements
In 1985, the MSU Board of Trustees created the School of Health Education, Counseling Psychology and Human Performance. The College of Education served as the lead college, along with two medical colleges on campus. The move was multi-purpose, including the hope that it would strengthen health and physical education at the university. However, it also meant faculty “had the arduous task of preparing entirely new undergraduate and graduate programs.” This was according to “100 Years of Kinesiology,” which Haubenstricker co-wrote with Feltz in honor of the department’s centennial. (When considering who would be a good historian to document the department’s legacy, Feltz immediately thought of Haubenstricker.) Haubenstricker served as graduate coordinator during this transition. The school was eventually dissolved in 1990, and the department became known as the Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science.
Because of the shift to the department, curriculum changes were then needed to reflect the university’s semester system (over the quarter system), Haubenstricker was co-chair of the curriculum committee to oversee the adjustments.
A few years later, in 1994, Haubenstricker was acting chair of the Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science (it became the Department of Kinesiology in 1998).
Additionally, between 1978 and 1999, Haubenstricker served as the coordinator of the MSU Motor Performance Study, a decades-long research study examining how growth and changes in the brain, body and environment influence physical maturation and skills. Findings from the study were featured in a special issue of Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science (2021) as well as the college’s New Educator magazine (2021).
Within his role as coordinator, Feltz acknowledged that Haubenstricker dedicated his Saturday mornings for decades to the study and to its outreach programs.
“John had a unique ability to apply the laws of physics to the study of fundamental movement skills,” said Professor Emeritus Vern Seefeldt, who was the originator of the study. “His insight was especially helpful during our attempts of understanding the movement problems of children in the early phases of our developmental sequences.”
From 2000-2002, Haubenstricker was the director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports.
Career achievements
Among the many accolades in his career, Haubenstricker was the recipient of the:
- 2005 – Cougar Hall of Fame Inductee – Concordia University
- 2000 – Midwest Scholar of the Year – Midwest District of the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
- 2000 – Honorary Doctor of Laws degree – Concordia University
- 1991 – Outstanding Faculty Award – College of Education Alumni Board
- 1987 – Distinguished Service Award – Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
“People will always remember John for his engaging personality. His smile was not reserved for best friends; it extended to his students, the office personnel, custodians, everyone he met in the hallways of IM Circle,” Seefeldt said. “His students will remember him as a dedicated teacher who was always willing to extend his day to ensure their concerns were addressed.”