Waite/Fleischmann Family

Frederick (Class of 1972) and Shirley Fleischmann (Class of 1975) establish this scholarship in memory of Clair H. Waite, (Class of 1938) and on behalf of all their family. Clair was Frederick’s stepfather and thanked him for everything done for him.
Clair Waite transferred from Grand Rapids Community College into Calvin in his Junior year. With no scholarships available to transfer students and it being the middle of the Depression, Clair worked first in a restaurant and then as a Tool & Die Apprentice to pay for his college. An only son, he was the first in his family to attend college. After graduation in 1938 Clair was called into the Army where he participated in the D-day invasion of Europe. Lieutenant Waite went ashore on Utah Beach on D-day +3 with the 315th Division in a machine gun and mortar company. His unit, the Michigan ‘M’ Company had all eight officers either killed (5) or wounded (3) (two were hurt than him). In the first 30 days they experienced 70% casualties and were the first to encounter the Nazi SS troops at St Lo France. He received a purple heart and Bronze Star, and his left arm was crippled for life. Clair Waite married Frederick’s mother and raised him as his stepson. Frederick too attended Grand Rapids Community College before transferring to Calvin. He also worked in a restaurant and as a Tool & Die Apprentice because scholarships for transfer students were not available. After graduation Frederick served in the Air Force through the end of the Vietnam War. The Waite/Fleischmann genealogy shows that a family member has served in every American War since the French and Indian Wars in 1750. Frederick met Shirley in a Nuclear Chemistry Class in Jan 1972 and they married that year. They had five children (one deceased) and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Dec 2022. In their own lives they have experienced the transformative power of education. In recognition of their own love of life, support of lifelong learning and championing of the ‘Parable of the Talents’, this scholarship is to be endowed.