Arthur Van Bergen Tebbutt, (“Art” to family and friends), passed away peacefully on May 22 in Ames, IA at age 89. Born in Providence, RI, his family relocated to the Chicago area, where Art graduated from Evanston High School. It was in Chicago that he met Maryan Bauer (a New Trier high grad from nearby Wilmette, IL). They married in 1962 and remained a loving couple for 60 years until Maryan passed in 2022.
Art excelled at wrestling, earning state accolades in high school and later excelling in the sport at Princeton University. After receiving his undergrad degree at Princeton, Art followed up with a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. It was soon after that Art and Maryan started their family: Amy, Charles and Andrew—all born in Chicago, and Dorie in Bloomington, IN, where Art was an associate professor at Indiana University. In 1970, the family relocated to Wyoming, OH, and Art taught high school for years in Cincinnati Public Schools. Art and Maryan were also career landlords—owning several rental properties around Cincy. Art took pride in being a handyman—repairing, painting and tinkering around the apartment buildings.
Art’s main criteria for any home the family lived in was a tall tree for a giant swing and space for a badminton court. Among the other things Art loved were dancing, playing bridge with friends, sharing wrestling tips with local high school students, table tennis, running, and traveling the world with Maryan. In 1998, the couple bought a home in Door County, WI, where their children and grandchildren would gather every summer—and still do. There, Art spent his time on projects around the cabin, riding his bike into town for a copy of the Sunday New York Times, and relaxing with a nice cocktail, a bowl of peanuts, sports on TV, and the occasional cigar (much to the disdain of Maryan!)
One of Art’s main passions was reading and annotating books and magazines. He always carried reading materials along on all his trips— whether to the local hardware store or to far flung places like China and South America. Art emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, physical activity and healthy living (even though he was well known at local candy counters).
Art is survived by his children Amy Dugan (Michael), Charles (Sharon), and Dorie Allen (Mike), and grandchildren Andrew, Ian and Caroline Dugan, Hailey and Ander Tebbutt, and Henry and Mary Allen. He was predeceased by son Andrew, his brother James, and his beloved wife Maryan.