Noel Desch: Thanks to one great Ithacan

Noel Desch died in late January, at age 88. He was a great leader, environmentalist and connector who changed local life for the better — times 10 — over several decades. He was also one of my heroes.

Some folks come and go in Ithaca, bang kettles, thump chests and then are gone. Desch was in it for the long haul, for friends and neighbors from all walks of life.

Desch was a civil engineer and a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, and he worked for both Cornell and the community. During his campus career, he was the chief design engineer and director of maintenance and facilities, and he later worked in the Materials Science Center, retiring in 1998.

He also served as the town of Ithaca supervisor for 12 years and was one of the founders of the Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission. He helped lead the creation and construction of the three-party Ithaca Wastewater Treatment Facility that opened in 1987, which continues today as a model of environmental stewardship and efficiency.

“Noel and I, and the majority of the city of Ithaca Common Council, were of different political parties, but Noel didn’t let political difference in party get in the way of problem solving,” says former city of Ithaca Mayor (and later Cornell community relations director) John Gutenberger. “Noel’s responsibility was to the town of Ithaca, but during his tenure, the city and the town were able to cooperate on joint highway, sewer, fire protection and youth and recreation programs, among others, that benefited the residents of both municipalities.”

In short, Gutenberger said, “Noel always sought to find a way to share resources and create solutions for the common good.”

Desch’s life was inevitably about service, as reflected by the boards on which he served, including Cayuga Medical Center, United Way, Challenge Industries, Inc., Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Ithaca College, among others.

Desch’s awards include the Family and Children’s Services Agda Osborne Award, the David Morehouse Award for his tireless work on restoring and protecting the resources of the Cayuga Lake watershed, the Tompkins County Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award from the Boy Scouts Baden Powell Council and the New York State Trustee of the Year for his work as the president of the Longview Board of Directors.

Desch frequently said that “every day is a gift” and lived every day to meet that end. The awards didn’t mean as much to him as the importance of that daily gift.

Ithaca and Tompkins County will always be about churn, and in many ways, that’s a key asset, as is understanding the past, present and potential in our shared communities. Desch was an important advocate for our potential, and his influence is felt today. I was fortunate to learn a lot from this kind, engaged leader.

Donations in Desch’s memory can be made to Gadabout or Loaves & Fishes of Tompkins County.

East Hill Notes are published the first and third Wednesdays of each month in Tompkins Weekly. Gary Stewart is an associate vice president at Cornell University.