Comments on: Guest Blog for Dr. Blair A. Rudes http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/ (1951-2008) Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:45:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Natascha Kruger http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-44 Natascha Kruger Thu, 08 May 2008 16:56:17 +0000 #comment-44 Dear Dr. Rudes, I don't know much about afterlife if anything at all but I hope that my words will reach you somehow sometime... I just learned of your passing and am still in some sort of denial.... when I think of you, I remember my days in the English Department, where I just liked to hang out, always making sure to stop by your office to see if you were there. I don't think I ever made an appointment with you as my advisor, I just dropped in, and you always had time for me. Usually you would share fascinating news, articles, etc with me or stories of Heidi (I am glad to hear your dogs found a nice home).... do you remember the time we read a bit from a grammar book in Romanian, not that I know Romanian.... it was like reading a book on Latin grammar.... Dr. Rudes, to me you weren't only my professor and advisor, who "adopted" me as his advisee, ... no, what comes to mind when I think of you is the memory of my dear Uncle Teddy Blair who seemed so huggable, and yet we never shared a hug... other than metaphorically speaking... It's been quite some time since we met last, but I always imagined you'd be in your office next time I dropped in... as if time stood still, while I‘m gone... Auf Wiedersehen mein lieber Onkel Blair!!! Dear Dr. Rudes,

I don’t know much about afterlife if anything at all but I hope that my words will reach you somehow sometime… I just learned of your passing and am still in some sort of denial…. when I think of you, I remember my days in the English Department, where I just liked to hang out, always making sure to stop by your office to see if you were there. I don’t think I ever made an appointment with you as my advisor, I just dropped in, and you always had time for me. Usually you would share fascinating news, articles, etc with me or stories of Heidi (I am glad to hear your dogs found a nice home)…. do you remember the time we read a bit from a grammar book in Romanian, not that I know Romanian…. it was like reading a book on Latin grammar….

Dr. Rudes, to me you weren’t only my professor and advisor, who “adopted” me as his advisee, … no, what comes to mind when I think of you is the memory of my dear Uncle Teddy Blair who seemed so huggable, and yet we never shared a hug… other than metaphorically speaking…

It’s been quite some time since we met last, but I always imagined you’d be in your office next time I dropped in… as if time stood still, while I‘m gone…

Auf Wiedersehen mein lieber Onkel Blair!!!

]]> By: Richard http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-43 Richard Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:35:00 +0000 #comment-43 I met Blair during his last trip to Washington DC. Having heard from mutual friends about his depth and character for years, his conversational presence confirmed he had the power to affect the way people look at the world, the past, and themselves. I would have given a lot to sit in on one of his classes but count myself fortunate to have just met him. I met Blair during his last trip to Washington DC. Having heard from mutual friends about his depth and character for years, his conversational presence confirmed he had the power to affect the way people look at the world, the past, and themselves. I would have given a lot to sit in on one of his classes but count myself fortunate to have just met him.

]]> By: Percy Abrams http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-42 Percy Abrams Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:08:29 +0000 #comment-42 A good friend and truly inspiring educator. You will be missed. A good friend and truly inspiring educator. You will be missed.

]]> By: Emily Godfrey http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-41 Emily Godfrey Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:42:04 +0000 #comment-41 WE MISS YOU WE MISS YOU

]]> By: Becky Guy http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-40 Becky Guy Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:15:35 +0000 #comment-40 I have delayed writing these words because I am so stunned I cannot adequately express thoughts worthy of this great professor and kind man! Thank goodness, I expressed my admiration of him as a "gentleman and scholar" and appreciation to him each time I wrote him. He had spent a whole day working with me in the resurrection and teaching of the Patawomeck language to members of our reconstituted tribe. Returning from a lecture in Canada and diverting from his trip, he took out a Saturday and taught me more in that one day than I had learned previously in earning three degrees in some semester classes. Of course, I am an experienced language teacher and could "march right along with him." I was so encouraged by his availability to us, his selfless sharing of his scholarly work and his sensitivity. I am devastated by his sudden death and feel bereft of this mentor to guide me in our language project locally. I wanted so badly to come to his Memorial service but my first cousin, a Classics professor at the University of Kentucky, also died prematurely and my presence was required here for that service. I would like to offer my assistance in completing his work for publication, if I am needed. If someone in his department can complete this but needs clerical assistance, I will offer that also! Blair will live on in his work. We certainly intend to memoralize him in any publishing we do with our local project. I once e-mailed him with these closing words--in Powhatan and Latin--and I think they are very fitting here: "Anah and vale, Blair [my preferred translation = "Be well" literally!]." I wrote this on February 7th to a vital, energetic, brilliant man. Just a little more than a month later he was GONE, ripped from our hearts now bleeding in sorrow. My deep and sincere condolences to his brother Bryan and all his family, his colleagues and associates but especially to his students. They feel as stunned as I! Becky Guy mwcof61@cox.net I have delayed writing these words because I am so stunned I cannot adequately express thoughts worthy of this great professor and kind man! Thank goodness, I expressed my admiration of him as a “gentleman and scholar” and appreciation to him each time I wrote him. He had spent a whole day working with me in the resurrection and teaching of the Patawomeck language to members of our reconstituted tribe. Returning from a lecture in Canada and diverting from his trip, he took out a Saturday and taught me more in that one day than I had learned previously in earning three degrees in some semester classes. Of course, I am an experienced language teacher and could “march right along with him.” I was so encouraged by his availability to us, his selfless sharing of his scholarly work and his sensitivity. I am devastated by his sudden death and feel bereft of this mentor to guide me in our language project locally. I wanted so badly to come to his Memorial service but my first cousin, a Classics professor at the University of Kentucky, also died prematurely and my presence was required here for that service.
I would like to offer my assistance in completing his work for publication, if I am needed. If someone in his department can complete this but needs clerical assistance, I will offer that also! Blair will live on in his work. We certainly intend to memoralize him in any publishing we do with our local project.
I once e-mailed him with these closing words–in Powhatan and Latin–and I think they are very fitting here:
“Anah and vale, Blair [my preferred translation = "Be well" literally!].” I wrote this on February 7th to a vital, energetic, brilliant man. Just a little more than a month later he was GONE, ripped from our hearts now bleeding in sorrow. My deep and sincere condolences to his brother Bryan and all his family, his colleagues and associates but especially to his students. They feel as stunned as I!
Becky Guy
mwcof61@cox.net

]]> By: Jennifer Armentrout http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-39 Jennifer Armentrout Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:32:37 +0000 #comment-39 I am still shocked to hear about Dr. Rudes. His incredible knowledge in linguistics and beyond was truly mind-blowing. He was on my thesis committee for my master's degree and I am truly thankful that I was in his class. While I didn't know him well, I always appreciated his sense of humor and love for the Food Network! He will definitely be missed. I am still shocked to hear about Dr. Rudes. His incredible knowledge in linguistics and beyond was truly mind-blowing. He was on my thesis committee for my master’s degree and I am truly thankful that I was in his class. While I didn’t know him well, I always appreciated his sense of humor and love for the Food Network! He will definitely be missed.

]]> By: Lincoln Sigwald http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-38 Lincoln Sigwald Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:27:37 +0000 #comment-38 Our loss is truly Heaven's gain! What a beautiful spirit, energy, and joy for living Blair exuded. Always available for a chat and a cup of coffee, Blair Rudes was a humble genius among us, a gift to all who knew him. Bless you as you make your journey home, Blair. Our loss is truly Heaven’s gain! What a beautiful spirit, energy, and joy for living Blair exuded. Always available for a chat and a cup of coffee, Blair Rudes was a humble genius among us, a gift to all who knew him. Bless you as you make your journey home, Blair.

]]> By: tam2 http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-37 tam2 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:51:13 +0000 #comment-37 Blair was a very special man, and I am lucky to have known him. I will miss his twinkling blue eyes, his sharp wit, and his great hugs! I loved our conversations about languages, Native American tribes, and of course, Heidi and Ben. I miss you, Blair, and I hope you are at peace. Blair was a very special man, and I am lucky to have known him. I will miss his twinkling blue eyes, his sharp wit, and his great hugs! I loved our conversations about languages, Native American tribes, and of course, Heidi and Ben. I miss you, Blair, and I hope you are at peace.

]]> By: Patricia Baker http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-36 Patricia Baker Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:32:40 +0000 #comment-36 I met Blair Rudes late last year via telephone. We were working on a film project that would require his incredible expertise. Blair was generous with his time, an absolutely delightful human being, and clearly a leader in his field. The entire production team was so looking forward to working with him in person this year. We are shocked and saddened that he has passed. There are no words in this language to express such loss, perhaps they can only be found in the ancient languages that Blair so carefully reconstructed. I met Blair Rudes late last year via telephone.
We were working on a film project that would require
his incredible expertise. Blair was generous with his time,
an absolutely delightful human being, and clearly a leader in his field. The entire production team was so looking forward to working with him in person this year.
We are shocked and saddened that he has passed. There are no words in this language to express such loss, perhaps they can only be found in the ancient languages that Blair so carefully reconstructed.

]]> By: Deanna Beacham http://blairrudes.edublogs.org/2008/03/18/hello-world/#comment-35 Deanna Beacham Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:34:37 +0000 #comment-35 Blair Rudes personified the concept of "collegial". He gave his knowledge and help to countless American Indians struggling to retain or resurrect their lost or almost-lost aboriginal languages. When other academics stated the Virginia/Carolina Algonquian language was dead forever, Blair simply went about restoring it, and sharing what he knew with the descendent communities. We will not forget him or his work, and I hope we will continue in that same sharing spirit. Blair, we can never thank you enough, but I wish you had given us more time to try. Blair Rudes personified the concept of “collegial”. He gave his knowledge and help to countless American Indians struggling to retain or resurrect their lost or almost-lost aboriginal languages.
When other academics stated the Virginia/Carolina Algonquian language was dead forever, Blair simply went about restoring it, and sharing what he knew with the descendent communities. We will not forget him or his work, and I hope we will continue in that same sharing spirit. Blair, we can never thank you enough, but I wish you had given us more time to try.

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