Goodbye, gentle sir
03.04.2003
Dr. William A. Ritchie died last Friday night. He was one of my favorite people in the political science faculty; the department was never the same after his retirement. Now it never will be.
I remember first meeting Dr. Ritchie in a classroom. He was several minutes late and we never got a syllabus. But he was brilliant. He could speak extemporaneously about the subtleties of J. S. Mill or Rousseau or Marx. He personified the Anglophile gentleman scholar in every way. Always polite, w/ a dry piercing wit, a vocabulary beyond measure, wrapped in an English-cut blazer.
He introduced me to Robert Dahl and steered me towards my research interest - modern democratic theory. And yet he was intellectually honest. Though we both subscribed to a minimalist definition of democracy, he kept me reconsidering other angles.
He'll surely be missed.
Posted by Miguel at 12:44 PM
Comments
Well said Miguel...
Dr. Ritchie has always personified the genuine spirit of academia. He mixes up knowledge, modesty, respect for others and kindness. I wish there had been more things that we could have done to make his life more pleasant.
May Allah bless and rest your soul Dr. Ritchie.
Posted by: Moataz at March 12, 2003 03:38 PM
Friends have mentioned his incredible razor-sharp memory and amazing knowledge of theorists. In the first session of a graduate class on Political Philosophy, a friend described how this professor had asked each of the students their "favorite" philosopher. He proceeded to give an exhaustive breakdown of the books they needed to read for the course and for their thesis. He'd done their homework.
I asked him about Asian philosophers. His leads: in the index pages of some "obscure" titles.
I was impressed with his knowledge, and it was that plus his kindness and quiet dignity that made him unforgettable.
Posted by: Stephanie at March 12, 2003 03:39 PM
I have been in one of his classes. I struggle with theory. And in this class I definitely felt inferior and overwhelmed by the knowledge Dr. Ritchie had. However he never ever gave me reason to believe that he thought I was stupid. He was always very respectful, he smiled a lot and was very friendly. When I met him at department functions he was always friendly too and up for the chat. He will be missed.
Posted by: Melli at March 12, 2003 03:40 PM
Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem!
Lacrymosa dies illa,
Qua resurget ex favilla,
Judicandus homo reus,
Huic ergo parce Deus.Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona eis requiem!Amen.
Posted by: Miguel at March 12, 2003 03:41 PM