Centenary Remembers Professor Noah Haiduc-Dale (Part One)

As the fall 2025 semester began, the Centenary University family mourned the passing of Dr. Noah Haiduc-Dale, beloved and distinguished professor of history. His influence at Centenary over the past 12 years was far reaching, often in the smallest of ways, as the following tributes by students and staff express. 

Described as one-in-a-million and a shining star only scratches the surface of the words we strive to summon to describe Noah. No one eloquent sentence–or several or even pages–would succeed in capturing his essence. Here at CU, he was a teacher, colleague, scholar, mentor and friend. On the broader stage, he was a husband, a father, a fisherman, a musician, a baker, and bird watcher, to name a few. Memorable and talented at all.

Following are cherished memories of Noah held by the Centenary family that embody his life and legacy. 

In addition, check out more Remembrances of Noah found under our EDITORIALS tab.

Collected from the Taylor Memorial Library Noah Remembrance Basket:

As a teacher…

“Dr. Noah Haiduc-Dale was someone who I will always remember as a kind and passionate soul. His dedication to teaching history is something that will always inspire me to keep learning and show kindness to others. I will miss Professor Noah as he was someone who Centenary was very lucky to have,” said Andy Cundiff.

“Noah was such a good professor, but even a better person. When he walked into a room, his personality made it brighter; he always made his students feel included,” said junior Katelyn Shaw.

“Noah was an understanding and great professor. He was very flexible with due dates and he always made students his first priority. He truly made an impact on my life, and the lives of so many others,” said junior Taylor Lavin. 

He brought joy and smiles….

“I can’t name one specific time when Noah didn’t make me smile. He was full of love, joy, and whimsy,” said senior Eddie Pol.

“Dr. Haiduc-Dale was a man who brought smiles to people’s faces. I remember when he would sing and play his banjo during Story Time on Wednesday mornings for the little kids. Seeing the children’s faces light up to his tunes truly made my day when I was a work-study student,” said alumnus Alyssa DeBorja.

“I will never forget Dr. Haiduc-Dale’s banjo playing during story hour,” said Marvin Bell, student success specialist.

He touched lives in small ways….

“I never had a class with Dr. Haiduc-Dale, but always felt a warm presence whenever I saw him, especially in the library,” said Michael Rash.

“I went to the Archives with him to research an article I was working on for The Cyclone Chronicle. (Noah served as the University Archivist from 2023 - 2025). He gave out candy during his final exams. I had him day one as a freshman at Centenary University,” said sophomore Jodi Lanka.

“I had coffee with Noah every Wednesday since 2020,” said Pastor Tim.

He was fun-loving, too….

“Professor Noah was a very kind soul. One of my favorite memories was going to the Renaissance Fair in Sparta. All of the students dressed up in RenFaire or cosplay costumes. We all went for the day; it was one of the best events ever,” said junior Callista McKeon.

“He loved to have fun. He took us to the Renaissance Fair in Sparta and wore a jester’s hat. I cherish the picture of him and I at the Fair that appeared in my story on the Ren Fair in The Cyclone Chronicle,” said Lanka.

He loved the outdoors, especially the Adirondacks where he had a camp and held a class for CU students every other summer… 

“I will never forget his American Wilderness class, especially when we went to the Adirondacks. He told us that one of his relatives was Johnny Appleseed. He encouraged me to write about the experience for The Cyclone Chronicle,” said alumnus Billy Winz.

“Dr. Noah Haiduc-Dale showed us around Stephen State Park, pointing out many plants and their significance. A true leader, teacher, and environmentalist,” said junior Jordan Henderson.

“I only met you once, but it was a cool experience. Best short yap about nature that I ever had. Thank you,” said Erin.

Former students and staff share fond remembrances, too…..

Dr. Ashlyn Szilva, class of 2018, was Noah’s very first undergrad advisee in 2015. Because of Noah’s influence, she went on to receive her doctorate in Holocaust and Genocide studies, specifically Congolese genocide. She received a grant to go to the Congo, because their archive was under attack. Her team rescued 36 cubic square feet of missionary diaries. The minute she returned, Noah invited her to Centenary to talk to his class about her experience. 

In her presentation, she told students that a photographer she was studying had died five years earlier. This would’ve made the photographer 212 years old. She had meant the photographer’s daughter. Szilva never told Noah how embarrassed she was. 

“But now that he’s gone,” said Szilva, “I know that he didn’t care, and he told them exactly what [I meant] after. Everybody makes mistakes. It was a slip of the tongue, and I spent so many nights in bed thinking about it. I realized that was stupid, because he probably just laughed. It was a beautiful thing that he did to show his students what they could do.” 

Noah, according to Szilva, brought Centenary’s History Club to Drew University’s Methodist archives to see what she had gotten. They held old books that smelled of maple syrup due to the printing process and got to touch Nazi uniforms. Noah was so proud of the kids, and they were so excited to be there. 

“A year later, he invited me back and said, ‘It’s not just history. History can teach you things outside of history where you can apply elsewhere,” said Szilva. “He brought me back to show his students they could be anything they wanted to be. That was the most important thing. It wasn’t the facts. It was history, and it was amazing. You can do what you want to do, and he really believed that. He really believed in all of his students equally.”

“I knew him when he had five students [in History Club]. He did a really good job. They don’t make them like him,” said Szilva. 

She described being able to sit and eat lunch with him as being just like sitting with a friend. “He was such a nice guy. He would come up and talk to me, almost like sunlight… A genuine human being with a good heart, helping you comprehend the atrocities in the world. It makes life so much easier. It is a significant loss to Centenary, because he really was a  safe  space.”

“He took a scared little girl and made her into a WWE  fighter. I was scary when I was around him, because he made me tough,” said Szilva.

“I promise you. It doesn’t matter if you weren’t his student.  He believed in you, and he remembered you.  He saw you; he heard you; he knew you.”

Katherine Hargadon, another alumnus of the class of 2018, graduated as a history major with an English minor, and was a former student of Noah’s. He was one of only three former teachers she still kept in contact with, and they met for coffee once or twice a year after she graduated. Hargadon said that Noah was the reason she stayed in college.

Hargadon was studying abroad in Ireland as an education major during her sophomore year and experienced a tremendous personal loss. She considered dropping out of Centenary, but Noah encouraged her to keep going. 

He always said, “When I grow up, I want to be happy,” according to Hargadon. She has carried that with her through her life

Noah was passionate about everything– teaching and students– and taught her to question everything, including him, and challenge anyone who is giving the information. 

Hargadon and a friend, Chloe Zarcone, were able to study abroad as second semester sophomores, because Noah fought for them, as Centenary had a rule about only allowing juniors and seniors to study abroad. 

She describes Noah as an amazing person, who made her time at Centenary fun, encouraging her to go outside of her comfort zone. Noah always remembered the smallest detail about people, according to Hargadon, and made an effort to ask about it. 

Hargadon now works for Chubb Insurance and uses the critical thinking and research skills she learned in her major from Noah to influence her career. 

Chloe Zarcone, another alumnus from the Class of 2018 with a bachelor’s in history, said this about Noah: “When I think back on my years at Centenary University, one person shines brightest — Noah. What began as a simple effort to revive the History Club turned into one of the most meaningful friendships of my life. Noah was my professor, my advisor, and eventually my mentor and friend.”

“He encouraged me to study abroad, guided me when I changed my major to history, and always believed in me even when I doubted myself,” said Zarcone. “His patience, kindness, and quiet confidence had a way of making you feel seen — like your ideas and dreams truly mattered.”

“Noah filled every moment with passion and joy, whether strumming his banjo in class, donning Renaissance garb for the History Club, or turning a course on The Crusades into a living, breathing role-playing adventure,” said Zarcone. “He made history come alive, and he made his students feel alive in the process. He saw the best in everyone and inspired us to see it too.”

“Noah was one in a million — a teacher whose lessons went far beyond the classroom. I’ll forever be grateful for his friendship, his belief in me, and the light he brought into every room he entered,” said Zarcone.

Rebecca Rader (Clinebell), class of 2018, shared the following: Noah was more than a professor; he was a friend and inspiration. His love and passion impacted all who were blessed to know him. I’m beyond grateful for my time with him. I will forever remember him playing his banjo at story time, playing Pandemic and Settlers of Catan in his history class with his children, and only passing his difficult final exam by putting my entire history notebook to silly little songs. After returning the tests, he asked me how I managed to do so well on the exam and remembered such tiny details that were discussed in class. I explained how I wrote silly little songs to my entire history notebook, and he insisted that I send him all my songs. Noah challenged my thinking and helped me grow as a student and life-long learner. As an avid rule follower my entire life, Noah helped me see that sometimes rules were meant to be challenged. In everything Noah encouraged His students to stand strong in their beliefs, challenge opinions they disagreed with, but to also always show respect and kindness in everything. I will forever be thankful for every moment with Noah. 

Trinity McVicar, class of 2023, was a graduate with a bachelor's in history, also shared memories of Noah. 

“I met Noah the summer before my third year in college,” said McVicar. “From the first class I took with him, Noah opened my eyes to new ways of thinking and inspired a deep appreciation for learning about people. I ended up taking about eight ‘Noah classes’ and graduating with a history degree, but I spent countless hours in his office learning and talking.”

“Noah was the kind of guy who saw the potential in every student who came through his door. He would share his passion for coffee, baking, and banjo playing during a slow class. He was full of knowledge without being arrogant. Noah expected the best from his students, and we strived to meet those expectations. His compassion made you want to be a better person.”

“Noah was more than a professor,” recounted McVicar. “He was my biggest cheerleader throughout my confusing senior year and the post-grad blues. He would text just to say ‘hi’ and check in. He was the only professor I know who would’ve taken ten young adults into the Adirondack wilderness—and into his family’s home. He was a friend. Noah touched my life, and I am forever grateful for him. I will miss him dearly.”

Dr. Noah Haiduc-Dale touched the lives of so many students, alumni, faculty, and staff and will forever be missed. 

Take a look at part two of the story for memories from colleagues and the Editorials page for several remembrances from alumni.