Even though it was expected, it’s still a blow.
I met Marc in 2006 when I was a Lecturer at Smith College fresh out of graduate school. I instantly thought of him as a quintessential small liberal arts college professor. When you’re a Visiting Assistant Professor or a Lecturer (anywhere, not just at Smith) it’s not really a very prestigious gig. You teach a lot, and aren’t expected to stick around for very long. So, students and faculty don’t really invest too much time or energy in you. I felt pretty alone in those days.
But Marc was a very kind mentor and colleague to me in the three years at Smith, and even afterward, in my three years as a Visiting Assistant Professor at UMass Amherst. We had lots of lunches and conversations about teaching, mentoring students, and the profession. He was a generous guide to the teaching life. All along, he wrote countless recommendation letters for me, offering near-weekly check ins.
In the years since I was on the job market, I saw Marc at the YMCA a lot. He had a condition that was improved by exercise and so we would often see each other almost everyday. We would chat about his classes, his family in Pittsburgh, my writing. Usually while he was on the bike or I was on the elliptical. Lately we’d talk about his health and he had said that it had taken a turn. He didn’t want to talk about it, and just shook his head and kept his headphones on. I didn’t think it would be the last time I saw him but, when I didn’t see him for three straight visits to the gym, I assumed the worst. I am not sure when I’ll step into the cardio room and not look for his wide headband and headphones. I’ll miss our regular chats.
Since I heard of his passing, I went through my syllabi and accounted for all the forensic evidence of where I borrowed ideas from his syllabi, including offering students the “Rules of Engagement.” There are probably a few other things that I’ll carry with me for a while.
Professor Bob Zussman wrote that Marc was an incredibly decent person, and I would totally agree. I’ll miss him a lot.
Take care, everyone.