Tuesday, April 9, 2024
With his calm presence and willingness to listen, Robert was an excellent leader at RU. The last time I spoke to Robert, I was having trouble with a student, and he offered some assurance and practical advice, but what I remember most about the conversation is Robert's generous smile and how we shared a laugh about the gray in my facial hair. I also remember Robert as a fellow graduate school student, a class Paul Witkowsky taught. I looked up to Robert because, like me, he had a Southern accent and a working-class background, but he could illuminate dense theories (and make them less intimidating) with a few precisely chosen words. Robert no doubt had a tremendous impact on everyone's lives he touched. More than most of us, he was a truly caring, generous person; and more than most of us he was one of a kind.