In Memory of Madeline (Lyn) Oglesby Ph.D., M. Div. (1934 to 2020) 

Madeline Oglesby, or Lyn, as she preferred to be called, died some time in November of 2020. Two days before her birthday on November 16, we spoke briefly by phone. She sounded very ill and disoriented, and told me that she was in a hospital in New Jersey; she lived in Washington D.C. at that time. Lyn had difficulty speaking, and we agreed that I should call her back on her birthday when she hoped to feel better. I did call her on her birthday, and many more times over the following years, but was unable to ever reach her again.  Lyn had a heart condition, but that was also Covid time – I was unable to find out what actually happened to my former colleague and dear friend of many years with whom I shared many wonderful adventures and memories.  

Lyn Oglesby’s association with then UMUC was in a teaching capacity in the fields of Psychology and Business Management. She taught for the UM Asian Division from 1978 to 1980 in Yokota, Japan; during 1982 in Guam (Unincorporated Territory of U.S.), and from 1985 to 1988 in Okinawa, Japan.  Between 1988 and 2001, she also taught, on and off, at College Park. During the early 2000s, she had a teaching/administrative position at Georgetown University.   

Lyn held a Ph.D. degree in Psychology and Business Management; and in her early 60’s, she became a university student again in the field of theology to become a minister for the Unitarian Universalist Church. 

Lyn lived with intelligent and compassionate intention. She was not a sentimentalist, but she rather saw life and the world we live in with rational honesty and a keen sense of humanity, altruism and empathy. For example, after Lyn received her M.A. in Theology from the University of Chicago, her first ministerial assignment was at the Unitarian Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, precisely at the time when hurricane Katrina struck that area. She immediately made it her priority to set up and personally work in rescue- and-support stations to provide shelter, food, legal, financial and spiritual help for the many victims who lost their homes.  

During her young adult years, Lyn and her husband were in the U.S. Foreign Service. In that capacity, the couple lived in India for 12 years and for two years in Nepal, where they raised their two children.  Lyn developed a keen interest in the great diversity of ancient Indian cultural traditions, and she made life-long friends in that country. In later years, Lyn journeyed back several times to that magical land. In fact, she went on two pilgrimages to the cave in the hilltops of Northern India where Buddha meditated more than two-thousand years ago. Lyn incorporated Buddha’s teachings into her life and let his Eight-Fold Path guide her in her personal interactions, in her teaching, in her duties as a Reverend, and in her travels and explorations of other cultures. As Lyn once said in one of her memorable sermons - “The essence of The Path is to act thoughtfully, intentionally and respectfully toward one another, and to all we encounter every day, in order to rid ourselves of the suffering around us and inside us. Buddhism is not an easy path. It is a philosophy with no god to worship. The Buddhist life requires constant, continuous discipline of mind and body – and we, not a mysterious god, are our own judges.” 

During the 1980s, our paths frequently crossed teaching for UMAD in Okinawa; and Lyn and I spent one summer teaching at Xi Gong Da (Polytechnical University) in Xi’an, China.  Although it was very difficult to travel in post-Mao-Zedong China, Lyn and I managed to see and experience a number of towns, temples and formerly sacred places that allowed us glimpses into the ‘Old China’ and cultural traditions of yesteryear. It was not ‘comfort travel’ traversing areas that rarely saw foreign visitors, and Lyn’s wonderful, and sometimes wicked sense of humor frequently helped us through some difficulties and allowed us to make amazing and unforgettable memories!  

Lyn inspired and enriched her students, her parishioners, her friends, and all who were part of her life. She was a precious friend to me, and I will miss her to the end of my life.  

Ggisela Nass, Ph.D.