Remembering Tepe

When I first met Ralph Tepe, I found his overall presence to be, well, intimidating. Then I discovered that this somewhat gruff exterior hid the heart and soul of a poet, a person whose wit and wisdom inspired love from his students and respect from his colleagues. Upon deciding to pursue a Master's degree, I enrolled in his "Applied Philosophy" class, just to get back in touch with being in a classroom. I could not have made a better choice. With Tepe, lively discussion brought philosophy to life. More than that, he pushed me to think -- really think, a valuable asset that served me well in my graduate studies. I came to know him better when I occupied an adjacent office and we discussed everything from literature to a course he planned on the history and sociology of the automobile. If I were at a loss for words, I could always count on him to provide me with the best ones. If my writing became too convoluted, he would smile and ask me how I would diagram that sentence. No one diagrams sentences any longer! That is, no one but Tepe, who made me a better writer. No matter what the conversation, I always came away feeling richer for the encounter. Of all the paths Tepe could have taken in life, he chose public education, inspiring hundreds of students of all ages, teaching them to think and reach for more. But he also inspired those of us who had the good fortune to have worked with him. I am a better, wiser person for having known you, Tepe. You were a colleague, a mentor, a friend. And for that, I am eternally thankful.  Shalom.