In Celebration of Paul Kissinger

[The following are Jim's notes for his remarks]

Hard to assess - a very private person

1.  The teacher - already noted in program

a.  Personal side - kids to his home - goes well beyond the [call of duty]

b.  Personal anecdote - the Yoders

2.  A streak of adventuresomeness - a way to take risks

a.  His flying

b.  His innovative classroom techniques

c.  Most important - travel all over the world - individually and with Joanne

1)  Interest in eclipses - satisfied his scientific interests and his urge towards the wanderlust

2)  Cemented our personal relationship - Kissingers' visit to us in Hungary in 1998

3.  His athletic ability

a.  Top athlete-scholar at Albright

b.  His kids - natural abilities both kids

c.  As a tennis player

1)  Never played with the faculty group here - always a puzzle.   But -

2)  When he did play - obviously very good

So, want to celebrate this semi-hidden, yet important part of Paul's persona.

End with a poem - by another tennis player, on URI faculty, Paul Petrie, a professional poet.  "The Old Pro's Lament."  [Paul Petrie, From Under the Hall of Light, Vanderbilt University Press, 1969, pp 58-59]

1) Passion for the game, which Paul had

2)  Declining physical ability, even unto death

3)  But also a secret joy & desire to win, to continue to live life fully and successfully no matter what - and that also was Paul.

Goodbye, dear friend, we will all miss you very much.

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