[Oe List ...] another brief collegium

[Ken Fisher]

Dear John,

I was in Chicago from Ottawa for a Priors meeting in October of ’77 . Thanks to Karen Troxel, I visited Joe at his bedside for a few minutes and briefly conversed with him an hour or so before he died.

Two days later, I approached you with my own naive hopefulness and asked you if you would consider being our next Dean. 

For me, you have the genius, the humility, the discipline (wasn’t there a Military School somewhere back there?), the care for others and the inspiration.

For me, in my little fox hole, at that time with a decade of EI / O:E engagement, I knew I could put my trust in you and Ann to serve ‘at the centre tranquil - amidst the raging seas’.

In that regard, for me, nothing in 43 years has changed.

You stared at me directly with some surprise, then looked down and said, “No.”

I continued to look and I could not find.

In warmth and light,

Ken



> On Jun 3, 2020, at 6:55 PM, John Epps via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
> 
> Gordon Harper was always a role model for me, partly because of his humor, articulateness, and creativity. I especially appreciated his final posting which he termed a brief collegium. So here goes mine.
>             Yesterday I was enrolled in a home hospice system. It represents the culmination of 13 years of treating prostate cancer which now has expanded beyond that. The very good doctors have done all they can and recommended that hospice care is next. Ann is taking very good care of me. No one knows or says whether there are days, weeks or months left, so I wanted to let you know and to say two things.
>             1. First, I want to apologize for any and all offenses occasioned by my arrogance, naivete, and ignorance.
>             2.More important, I want to express real gratitude for the privilege of being part of this body of colleagues. It’s like what an extended family would like to be but never quite makes it.  You are my extended family and I’m honored to be part of it.
>  
> I probably won’t be posting any more on this list serve but will continue reading it avidly.
>  
> Grace and peace to all y’all.
> John Epps
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