Dear Colleagues:
First of all, I want to thank you for coming to Dr. Vic Battistich's Memorial Service today at Faith Presbyterian Church. The turnout was substantial and and a true testament to how much he was loved and admired by all of us who had the opportunity to know him. I thought Marvin Berkowitz's eulogy was wonderful and heart-touching. It is hard to lose a friend, but I know that this loss was particularly hard on Marvin, Matt, and his Ed. Psych. colleagues.
We recruited Vic out of the Developmental Studies Center in Oakland California in 2002-2003 due to his well-known work in the field of character and moral education. We were moving full-speed ahead with our plans to develop our new Center for Character and Citizenship in the College of Education and Dr. Battistich came highly recommended to us by our Endowed Professor of Character Education, Dr. Marvin Berkowitz. Vic saw the vision of what we were developing and quickly decided to leave his job as Deputy Director of Research at the Developmental Studies Center and join us as associate professor.
Vic was an exceptional member of our faculty. He was a prolific writer and quickly established himself as one of the leading character education scholars in the United States. He and his colleagues in character education in the College of Education quickly made us one of the leading institutions in the country in this important and emerging field of study.
Vic was a great person, a very honorable man, brilliant in intellect, one who cared deeply, and one who touched all those around him with his humor, his insights, and his humanity.
Please keep Vic, his wife Martha, and his two children Kaitlin and Sarah in your hearts and prayers. His five year service to UM-St. Louis was exceptional. He will forever be in our hearts and in our souls. As my Mother would probably say, "He was a good man!"
The very first time I met Vic was some five years ago. He was interviewing for a faculty position with us. Liz and I took he and Martha to lunch at Ya-Ya's -- one of our favorite restaurants in St. Louis. I know then that he was the person we wanted for our faculty position. Little did I know that five years hence he would be gone - cheated of the full life he deserved.
Yesterday, Liz and I went to Ya-Ya's for lunch. We wanted to honor Vic and celebrate his life.
Take care, my friends. Life is fragile. Life is uncertain. Life is not forever. Love today. Hug someone tonight. In love and life, there is nothing more important than having someone to love, and someone who loves you.
Recently, a colleague sent me the following poem. I wanted to share it with you tonight. Enjoy the poem by Brian Emmanuel Apollo.
Death Of A Friend
by Brian Emmanuel Apollo
When a friend dies, one isn't truly forgotten...
Specially when touched by the lives of others, without asking
From heart to heart, in such a loving, caring and unique fashion
When a friend dies, one isn't truly gone...
Though departed in the physical but remains in my mind's gate
With me forever, regardless of their untimely fate
When a friend dies, one isn't truly lost...
But is found and lives in the hearts of all of us
Simply because we love em'... the recipient of our trust
When a friend dies, one must travel alone...
Each one has his own special road, the route is created by each own
Without help, each must walk alone; to our final destination, home
When a friend dies, everyone becomes hurt...
Though no mere words can ever categorize the sorrow
It's good memories fused with time that helps us through tomorrow
When a friend dies, God is still in control...
Knowing that in the good or the bad, we are still blessed
Because our God, not us, knows what's truly best
Though how can it be explained when a friend dies, yet we still remain
Until I see God and He makes it all clear -- at least I know He's always near
I'll always remember my friend that I held dear, as I wipe away this tear
Charley