Mar 18 2008
Guest Blog for Dr. Blair A. Rudes
A valued member of the Department of English, Dr. Rudes will be deeply missed by his colleagues and students.
Please use the comment space below to share your memories or express condolences.
42 responses so far
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Dr. Rudes was a great man, teacher, and scholar. Every class, you could truly see his passion for teaching linguistics. He made class interesting and fun, always explaining his ideas in exciting ways. He will truly be missed by his family and friends but also his students. Given that we don’t really become close to our teacher’s, it still hits home when something like this happens. I for one hope his legacy will remain at UNC-Charlotte somehow. The “Blair A. Rudes Center of Linguistics” has a nice sound to it. Dr. Rudes, we miss you already…
Blair was an amazing man! It was always fascinating to hear him tell stories about the many experiences in his life related to his career. He was a wonderful and trusty friend, always loyal and dependable. I will miss him tremendously, as will many of his friends.
I was a student of Dr. Rudes for only half a semester. Like many things in life, we don’t appreciate what we’ve got til it’s gone…Now, suddenly, I realize that I’ll miss his white hair and moustache, his twinkly eyes and smile, his sporty “professor” ensembles of v-neck sweaters and sportscoats. One thing I loved about him was that he was able to laugh at himself. He told our class on the first day that he would give us lots of boring lectures, and to remind him when class was over or else he’d just keep on talking. He never had any fear of making funny noises to show us what a glottal stop was, or admitting that he liked to “torture students” by having them analyze conversations. He did it all with a grin and a wave of his hand that let us know it was all in good fun. It’s a shock to think that someone who was handing out quizzes last week will not be there to hand them back…It’s also suprising to find so much emotion for the loss of someone I knew so little…but that’s the way it goes, and I think he’d be the first to understand that.
Dr. Rudes…if one student in one semester feels your loss, I can’t imagine the void felt by those who were your close colleagues, friends, and family. Even if all we notice is just the lack of you having your after-class cigarette on the front steps of Fretwell, we all miss you and UNCC will not be the same.
The culture of the Native Americans whose languages you so faithfully studied and revived tells us that life is not linear, but circular, and that one’s spirit continues on a journey even after physical life ends…In that respect, Safe Journey, Dr. Rudes, and farewell…
Such an amazing heart and mind. You will be missed buddy. Your Spirit will live on. Also thanks for the language of the heart.
I have been a student at UNC Charlotte for 2 years now and Dr. Rudes was the very first person I met educator wise here. He was my SOAR advisor and he did a wonderful job. He went out of his way to make me feel comfortable, no matter how nervous I was transferring into a new school. After that, he was my go to guy. He helped me anyway I needed him to with a smile on his face. He called people and made them do things they would otherwise not do (like give me credit for a class I needed to transfer in that was not even offered here). He was a great man and I really saddens me to know that the next time I will have to rely on someone for help that I will have to go to someone else. I will miss you Dr. Rudes, but I know one day we will meet again! I love you much!
Blair was an amazing man with a great heart and personality. We loved to share travel stories together over a cup of coffee. I also loved to hear him share about his two dogs, or his “children” as he referred to them. When we saw him Friday night, he looked like a million dollars and was truly happy. Someone once said that “No life is truly passed until every other life that they have touched has passed on as well.” You will live on in the hearts of many for years to come. Go with God, dear friend.
Sir,
I will miss our good conversations. I pray that you fair well in the afterlife, and all your good deeds be remembered by all who had the fortune of being blessed with your wisdom and good company.
We will miss you.
For Dr. Rudes:
Irish eyes smiling
Linguist tongue rolling liquids
Gliding toward light
It was an honor and a privilege to have you as my professor even if the time was too short.
I feel like many of us were just really starting to get to know you this semester and hearing what happened came as a shock. While I didn’t share your passion for linguistics, I did realize that you were an amazing professor. Very few people are capable of taking something as straightforward as linguistics and adding a humorous touch. I loved coming to class because I knew you’d be there with your quirky sense of humor and plethora of anecdotes. I may not have known you as well as some of the others on campus, but I knew you well enough to realize you are a man to be missed.
Blair played cards with us and had a keen mind. I asked him at Thanksgiving to say the blessing in Iriquois, and he replied that he might manage it better in Tuscarora! I enjoyed hearing about his film adventures and about his scholarly studies. He will certainly be missed.
I was only a colleague of Blair’s for a year and a half, but I enjoyed his presence in the department during that short time. We had some good conversations about movies, teaching, scholarship, home improvement, and, of course, our pets. To his family (and the university community) I am truly sorry for your (our) loss. His work is among the most unique of UNCC professors. You will be missed, Blair.
Dr. Blair Rudes
The sweetest man I never knew. You will be missed by many. Thanks for the knowledge and good times.
I still can’t believe that the last thing I said to you was “Can I read this book for class?” That was about a week ago. I couldn’t believe anything had happened and didn’t really let it sink in until I got to your class and, as someone else has pointed out, didn’t see you standing outside smoking a cigarette. I even ran late for a change, just to avoid the possibility of having to face it until the last possible moment.
When it finally hit me I thought again about the last thing I had said to you and I hoped that you didn’t really hear it, that instead you heard what so many students have said to you with those same words: “Thank you for being my teacher; thank you for inspiring me to try harder; thank you for giving me an example of something to strive to be.” You’re one of the few people I’ve ever really, truly looked up to. You’re going to be sorely missed.
Dr. Rudes,
You were such an awesome professor. It was a joy to learn under you. Thank you for your passion for teaching and the humor that you brought to ENGL 3132. You will be miss greatly.
Dr. Rudes instructed the first graduate course of my TESL program. Having his class was absolutely a great experience, and I am sad for future TESL students who will never get to experience it. My heart goes out to his family and friends. I hope his “children” have found their way to a new home that will love them as much as he did.
Dr Rudes was never my professor, but I always passed him outside Fretwell smoking and we always said a brief hello; almost daily. His death is so tragic and sudden, it’s shocking not to see him there. I am deeply saddened that I will never get to know him on a more personal level and be exposed to his special work and realm of knowledge. This is a tragic loss to all in the English Department family but I know he is in a better place and watching over us. My prayers go out to his friends, family, colleagues, students and those whose lives he touched so deeply.
I only had Dr. Rudes this semester but I thought he was so interesting. I remember how excited I was to meet him. He was a movie star! Well, kind of, hehe. He told us he liked to talk and he did! I really liked him and it was a pleasure to know him.
-Megan
I knew Blair for almost 6 years. He was a very interesting person. There was a Korean lady that would sometimes attend a discussion group we were involved in. It was very hard to understand her English. Sometimes you could understand her and most of the time you could not. Blair explained to me that even though she understood, and read English, at times her brain could not translate her thoughts to English. There is a gentleman we knew that would talk for several minutes and to most people he did not make any sense. Blair told me that the gentleman is unable to express his thoughts out loud. What appeared to most people as the man speaking nonesense, he was actually trying to express his thoughts. Sometimes he would get his thoughts out and sometimes he didn’t. Blair had the insite to explain what the problems were and not put the people down. I respected Blair for those comments and became patient when they spoke.
I am so glad I saw him Friday night. He looked great, was in a good mood. It interesting that when I saw him Friday I started thinking about the past 6 years that I knew him.
He will be missed.
Phil
I only knew Dr. Rudes for half a semester but I felt a connection with him. Maybe it was the love for more knowledge that I saw in him that inspired me or his cynical side that I related to. Whatever it was I liked him and I talked with my family about him on many occasions. The first day of class he said he was a polyglot and he could speak some 18 languages, I was blown away and that has stuck with me ever since. I am bilingual and I thought that was something. I think Dr. Rudes was a walking knowledge pool and I would have loved to have spoken with him individually and I that was my intent before semester ended. I unfortunately will not have that opportunity and that saddens me greatly. When tragedy like this occurs it really makes you take a step back and appreciate what we have. I appreciated Dr. Rudes in the brief time I had his acquaintance. Thank you and God bless!!
Goodbye Dr Rudes, from whenever to today
I smile when I think of
The slighted word
Off the tip of my tongue
And know that this other language
Was something he always knew
When I barely knew what I wanted
The last glance I made
The last caress with my eyes
And he never knew
That I thought he was beautiful
I whispered through the breeze
My lips touched with his presence
As I smile with an invitation
That I thought he understood
My last words so barren
So agreeable
without measures
I never thought the look
I gave
Would now feel insincere
I breathe the smoke
Of our last encounter
And know that you
Were a beautiful touch
To who I will become
Thank you Dr Teddy Blair Rudes
I hope you will be happy
In whatever comes next…
Blair,
It took me a decade to return to college to work on my Masters. I thought I was probably crazy to go back to school to work on a degree (in Linguistics of all things). The first class was a test for me, to see if I had a passion for this next step or to see if I could just let it go. You were the first professor I had that year, and you changed my life. Your passion for linguistics was infectious. I was hooked.
When I continued to show up in your grad classes semester after semester, I suppose you figured that I was a roadie of sorts; on the journey with you. I went into labor with my first child while prepping for a presentation on a Colonial English paper for your class. You got a voicemail from me from the hospital (since I would miss my presentation) – I still don’t know who won the pool in class that year on ‘when I would go.’ I somehow showed up for class the next week to give my presentation; you considerately let me present first and then sent me back home to my son and husband (and awarded me my well-deserved “A”).
Blair, your life-lessons teaching-style kept me on my path. Your stewardship helped me to reclaim my Native American heritage. My sympathy goes out to your loved ones.
On my way out of class every night, I always said “thank you.” I knew it was a gift to learn from you. “Wado,” great teacher. Until we meet again, continue to guide me.
I am so sorry to hear of Blair rudes’ passing. He provided the Powhatan people with the invaluable gift of reconstructing their language for the New World. Thereafter, he always responded to me so quickly whenever I wrote to ask him language questions. With his passing there is a loss of many encyclopaedia’s worth of knowledge. His mind is matched by his generous heart. With honor and respect, Rulan
I worked with Dr. Rudes while doing my MA several years ago. He was a dynamic teacher with a very unique approach to education. He was an accomplished linguist, and his earnest pride in the quality of his work made me like him instantly. Over my two years in the English MA program, Dr. Rudes was my teacher and advisor and friend. He let me tag along with him to LSA and we used to have some great conversations about Old English grammar at a coffee shop on East Blvd. Finally, when my wife and I decided to move to start my doctorate, Blair helped me in every way possible to ensure I had a great start in the program. He was a great man with a generous personality; both the Charlotte and the linguistics communities are a little sadder now.
I met Blair when he walked down the FCTeL hallway in Atkins looking for help using Blackboard. At first, I was a little afraid of him - he seemed so “in your face.” Then, we started talking and I realized how intelligent, warm and funny he was. Our connection was the fact that we both spent time in Upstate NY - sounds like a prison sentence! When I read about his passing, I was devistated. UNCC will not be the same without Blair. This poem has helped me and I hope it will help you too.
“You can shed tears that he is gone,
or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that he is gone,
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what he’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”
By David Hawkins
I remember talking to him in NoDa during the gallery crawls, at Peak Fitness on the treadmills, and of course, in the hallways of Fretwell. A great loss to our department of English and for our community.
Blair was my friend and professor a number of times during my undergrad and my graduate studies. We talked about dogs, (especially Chow Chows) and swapped pictures of our pets. We had many other topics that we would talk about, you all know what a character he was. Most of our talks began with laughter, would be filled with facination (mine of him!), more laughter, some nugget of knowledge that he would share, and end with laughter as well as the mutual request and promise to try and not let so much time pass between our visits.
It was hard to ever try and present him with anything from an article I had just read, because he could already quote it, knew who wrote it and when! I think he must have known just about everything related to languages, dialects, accents, the origination of various languages and accents, etc.
I am saddened by losing him and it hurts to know there was still so much for me to learn from him. I used to nag him about his smoking and tried to convince him that quitting cigarettes was the best thing I’ve ever done for my own health. Now, I wish I would have lived up to our promises of getting together more often so I could have nagged him more.
Yes, he was brilliant, whimsical, pungent and passionate, all of which made him an extraordinarily interesting person. But he was also generous to a fault; he turned over to the Patawomecke (Potomac) Indian community the product of years of his labor and intellectual effort, the Powhatan vocabulary, pronunciation guide and actual sound discs.
This has made it possible for lessons to be conducted for several weeks now to enthusiastic Patawomeckes in an effort to restore their long-lost culture and language.
Each language session from now on will be a living memorial to our friend and benefactor, Professor Blair A. Rudes.
Please respond: P.O. Box 1176 Merchantville, N.J. o8109 Tribal Council Information vital for the preservation of our heritage’ Please contact so we alo can begin this renewal’ ; Powhatan Renape Nation
Blair was my friend and professor a number of times during my undergrad and my graduate studies. We talked about dogs, (especially Chow Chows) and swapped pictures of our pets. We had many other topics that we would talk about, you all know what a character he was. Most of our talks began with laughter, would be filled with fascination (mine of him!), more laughter, some nugget of knowledge that he would share, and end with laughter as well as the mutual request and promise to try and not let so much time pass between our visits.
It was hard to ever try and present him with anything from an article I had just read, because he could already quote it, knew who wrote it and when! I think he must have known just about everything related to languages, dialects, accents, the origination of various languages and accents, etc.
I am saddened by losing him and it hurts to know there was still so much for me to learn from him. I used to nag him about his smoking and tried to convince him that quitting cigarettes was the best thing I’ve ever done for my own health. Now, I wish I would have lived up to our promises of getting together more often so I could have nagged him more.
I just learned that his dogs have found new homes. I am sure Blair would be very pleased to know his “babies” are staying within the communal family of the English department. Knowing they will be happy and loved is comforting to me and helps to bring a smile through the tears.
He was never my professor, but he was my teacher. From the first day I met him on the set of The New World movie to the last time we met here in Virginia, a couple of months ago, he taught me the language of my ancestors. For that I am ever thankful. He gave my people their language and voice back - no small task when the language has been unspoken for hundreds of years. When I asked him to help us learn our native Powhatan it was never “when he got time” but always “when do we start.” I am still in shock at his loss, but eternally grateful for all that he did for us. His generosity in sharing all of his work with us is priceless and we shall honor his memory. Ahas netap Blair.
From Irish poet John O’Donohue how recently passed away at the age of 51:
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.
~ John O’Donohue ~
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
WE MISS YOU
A good friend and truly inspiring educator. You will be missed.
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.
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!!!