ANN ARBOR—”The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Famous words by Franklin Delano Roosevelt repeated dozens of times by U-M history Prof. After more than a half century of teaching, Fine held his last lecture on April 16. He is credited with having the longest active teaching career at the University and for leaving a lasting impression on his students.

“His career proves that it’s possible to be both a great scholar and a great teacher,” says former Ph.D. student and author James Tobin. “There’s no question that he’s one of the major American historians of his generation. But when you saw the lines of undergraduates outside his office every week, and when you saw the huge enrollments in his survey courses, you knew he was reaching his students.”

After serving as a Japanese Language Officer in the Navy from 1942 through 1946, Fine received his Ph.D. from U-M in 1948. That same fall, U-M offered him a teaching position.

“You don’t count on starting your career at one of the best universities in the country,” says Fine. “Normally, you work your way there. But I never lost my admiration for Ann Arbor or the University. I’ve been fortunate to stay at the University for my entire career.”

Nor did he ever lose the love of teaching. Recognized as an outstanding educator and historian, Fine says he is most proud of winning the U-M’s Henry Russel Lectureship and Golden Apple Award. Students pick the Golden Apple for excellence in teaching, and the faculty picks the Russel winner for national distinction in research and publication, the highest faculty honor. He is the first professor ever to receive both of these awards.

“He has set a standard of dedication and of excellence that has brought accolades to the University and great honor upon himself. Sidney Fine is, and will always be, a legend at the University of Michigan,” says former student and current state Sen. John Schwarz of Battle Creek.

Regardless of the size of his class or the number of courses he was teaching, Fine tried to have a personal relationship with each of his students. He wanted them to see him as a human being at the front of the class, not as an actor. His door was always open and students were often heard bending his ear.

Fine says as more and more years passed, his lectures became a bigger challenge. His first semester class details American History from the late 19th century to 1932. The second semester covers the history of the nation from 1933 to present. Every year he’s had to get another year’s worth of information, which has meant revising his lectures and, he jokes, “talking a little faster” to cover more recent developments.

Shirley Neuman, dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, says, “Professor Fine has had a distinguished career of scholarship and teaching at the University of Michigan. I often meet alumni who speak very warmly of having taken his courses in history and who testify to all they learned under his tutelage.”

Retirement won’t be a life of leisure for Fine. He’s about to publish his 12th book, “The Mark of a Civilized Society.” It looks at aging with a focus on Michigan’s elderly. He’ll also continue his research and give an occasional lecture or two.

Fine will always be remembered for his many incredible accomplishments that shone such a positive light on the U-M. He has received three honorary degrees, was named Professor of the Year for the state of Michigan in 1986 by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, was named an International Man of the Year for 2000-2001 by the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England, and eight of his books have won awards.

“I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to teach at such a fine university and have such an incredible teaching career,” says Fine. The school and his students will miss this incredible educator who has made such a lasting mark on the University of Michigan.