Dennis W. Hostetler of Collinsville, professor emeritus of public administration and policy analysis, died December 31, 2010, after a long illness. He was 68.
Before joining Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1975 in what was then known as the Government and Public Affairs division, later part of the School of Social Sciences, Hostetler taught English and American culture for the Peace Corps at the College Moyen de Gafsa in Tunisia. He also was a teaching assistant at the University of Iowa, where he was studying for a master's and then a doctoral degree, both in political science. He earned the doctorate in 1974. He had received a bachelor's in philosophy in 1965 at the University of Montana. From 1972 to 1975, Hostetler was an assistant professor, teaching American government, public administration, state and local government, political statistics, and analysis, among other subjects, all at Quincy College in Illinois.
He served as department chair of the newly named SIUE department of public administration and policy analysis from 1988 to 1996, and also served on committees for the Chancellor's office during his career at the University. He was the author of several publications on public finance, teaching, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues; served as a consultant for state and local government agencies; and received the SIUE Teaching Excellence Award in 2003. He retired from the University in 2006.
Active in the LGBT community, Hostetler served on the boards of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG); Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders (SAGE) of Metro St. Louis; and Prime Timers St. Louis, an educational organization for older gay or bisexual men. Hostetler was also an avid world traveler, a competitive tennis player, a bicycle enthusiast, a member of the Gateway Squares (a gay square-dancing organization), and enjoyed playing bridge with friends. He relished intense discussions, usually about politics and life, and cherished extended family and friends.
