Tribute
This past week, a close, personal friend of mine died. I knew Sally for almost 30 years. Rarely do we come across people in this life that we can hold up as role models. Sally was at the top of my list. While some people wear their faith on their sleeve, hers was quiet and steadfast. Some would call her a pillar of the church, but that doesn't quite fit her. She was more like the main steel support beam that holds up the floor; not fancy, but the building couldn't stand without it.
She was a brilliant woman in a brilliant family. Her credentials were endless. First as a psychology professor at Youngstown State University, then as Dean of the Graduate School and then as acting Youngstown State Provost. Her community affiliations are too numerous to mention. She was a stealth, feminist activist in the Episcopal Church, and therefore many of her accomplishments started with the words "the first female...." Her primary area of expertise was death and dying. She was a national force in moving death into the arena of public discourse, changing how our society, as well as how we as individuals, deal with the ultimate common experience of humanity. I had occasion to work with her on several local projects that flew beneath the radar of public scrutiny. The Mahoning Valley, in ways it can't appreciate, is a much better place to live because Sally came this way.
Notwithstanding her academic and community stature, she was salt of the earth. Her wry sense of humor could cut the edge out of pretentiousness right to the truth of the matter. She never took herself as seriously as those around her did. She was always first in line to poke fun at herself. She was always there with a kind word, a helping hand, and assistance and advice. Over the years we often had correspondence with each other, including this blog. I could always count on her "editing" my grammar, spelling, and syntax. And when she was done, she would comment on my ideas; sometimes good, sometimes bad. Her comments were always welcome, and always done with grace, good humor and good intentions.
This will be the last blog I send to Dr. Sally Hotchkiss' email address. We will miss her.
She was a brilliant woman in a brilliant family. Her credentials were endless. First as a psychology professor at Youngstown State University, then as Dean of the Graduate School and then as acting Youngstown State Provost. Her community affiliations are too numerous to mention. She was a stealth, feminist activist in the Episcopal Church, and therefore many of her accomplishments started with the words "the first female...." Her primary area of expertise was death and dying. She was a national force in moving death into the arena of public discourse, changing how our society, as well as how we as individuals, deal with the ultimate common experience of humanity. I had occasion to work with her on several local projects that flew beneath the radar of public scrutiny. The Mahoning Valley, in ways it can't appreciate, is a much better place to live because Sally came this way.
Notwithstanding her academic and community stature, she was salt of the earth. Her wry sense of humor could cut the edge out of pretentiousness right to the truth of the matter. She never took herself as seriously as those around her did. She was always first in line to poke fun at herself. She was always there with a kind word, a helping hand, and assistance and advice. Over the years we often had correspondence with each other, including this blog. I could always count on her "editing" my grammar, spelling, and syntax. And when she was done, she would comment on my ideas; sometimes good, sometimes bad. Her comments were always welcome, and always done with grace, good humor and good intentions.
This will be the last blog I send to Dr. Sally Hotchkiss' email address. We will miss her.
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