[Oe List ...] Gordon Haper

[John Epps via OE]

Gordon Harper – (2016)

These are a few memories of Gordon, whose recently completed life left me
(nearly) speechless.


 He said in an interview that when he joined the Order, he had 10,000 books
and gave 6,000 to a library. Both facts highlight attributes that I’ve
appreciated: a passion for excellence in possessions (from Dunhill pipes to
the yellow convertible) and the capacity for detachment (he put away his
pipes – I don’t know about the car).


 I always considered him a role model – maybe because of his academic
background, but more because he always seemed to have the situation in
hand.


At Kemper, he and I put together a “library” of books people had left
behind – mainly by in-kinding shelves and placing books inside, more or
less in topical order. There were a lot, and they became well-used. In the
process of looking for shelves, we went to the University of Chicago, and
he took us by a student lounge which had a large framed portrait of Gordon
posted on the wall!


The Harpers were with us one year in Singapore and Malaysia; they went from
there to India and then to Taiwan. We stayed in touch through the
“Organizational Transformation Network” in Asia. Gordon and I were PC
advocates while Jack championed the Mac: we had much fun off that rivalry.
In Taiwan, Gordon had a radio show, and later published a book of his
presentations.


Gordon was droll with a ready smile and quick wit which he matched up with
Ann on every occasion they met.


His bemused view of the past came when at a Prior’s Council in the 80’s, he
gave the opening comments of RS-1 about pigs and persons (straight) and it
was hilarious! And at a San Antonio ToP Network meeting, he led the “old
hands” in a time line exercise of ToP that was equally riotous. Younger
ones wondered what was so funny. But he was serious about the value of the
past and determined to get the Archives online and accessible.


His letters to us when his diagnosis came clear were profound yet humorous,
but mostly appreciative of the wonders of this life with the Order and
colleagues. It’s been an honor to have known and worked with him.


John Epps
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