He was..the tense is important. We wouldn't want him mucking around forever, would we?
We wouldn't say his life was totally wasted, maybe just a few bits and pieces,..
He did come with blessings like progressive parents, not a silver spoon though. Had to work to get a few degrees and a couple of scholarships. One that let him see the world beyond the country of his birth. One could say he made good use of it, learning some skills, and making new friends.
Now, that's one thing he gets credit for. Making friends. He made lots of them, from those he played Bridge with in childhood, to those he studied with, and among his colleagues. Amazingly, in this day and age when friendships don't last long, some of his lasted decades. Particularly with his former students and colleagues. Of course, he had to learn how to use technology, to be in touch with them (his daughters helped him out). And spend real time too, when he could meet up. He liked to travel.
One of his passions was music, and the second, writing. In a way, they kept him going in all circumstances- good, bad and ugly (yeah, there always are a few of those, and chai helps get you centred, like in his case, sometimes). Photography too. He was creative, and used those writing skills acquired through college and school to good use. Reading must have helped (he started with comics, children's stories, adult fiction, mystery mostly, and graduated to non-fiction)! And his wife and two daughters, who were a source of his energy, and peace, at the same time.
Teaching in the routine sense was futile, according to him, but experimenting with it was his interest. He managed to write a couple of original text books, and students helped him out with case studies out of their work-bless them, he used to say!
He faced a couple of black flag demonstrations during his lifetime from people who were aggrieved that they never got the Nice DP Award that he had instituted, and that became such a coveted prize.
He had a stint or two in administration too, and tried using these to build bridges with his colleagues. He was blessed with many who were happy to give their best, and make him look good. His Golf wasn't exemplary, but among friends in beautiful surroundings, he got a Hole-in-one, not once, but twice.
We wouldn't say his life was totally wasted, maybe just a few bits and pieces,..
He did come with blessings like progressive parents, not a silver spoon though. Had to work to get a few degrees and a couple of scholarships. One that let him see the world beyond the country of his birth. One could say he made good use of it, learning some skills, and making new friends.
Now, that's one thing he gets credit for. Making friends. He made lots of them, from those he played Bridge with in childhood, to those he studied with, and among his colleagues. Amazingly, in this day and age when friendships don't last long, some of his lasted decades. Particularly with his former students and colleagues. Of course, he had to learn how to use technology, to be in touch with them (his daughters helped him out). And spend real time too, when he could meet up. He liked to travel.
One of his passions was music, and the second, writing. In a way, they kept him going in all circumstances- good, bad and ugly (yeah, there always are a few of those, and chai helps get you centred, like in his case, sometimes). Photography too. He was creative, and used those writing skills acquired through college and school to good use. Reading must have helped (he started with comics, children's stories, adult fiction, mystery mostly, and graduated to non-fiction)! And his wife and two daughters, who were a source of his energy, and peace, at the same time.
Teaching in the routine sense was futile, according to him, but experimenting with it was his interest. He managed to write a couple of original text books, and students helped him out with case studies out of their work-bless them, he used to say!
He faced a couple of black flag demonstrations during his lifetime from people who were aggrieved that they never got the Nice DP Award that he had instituted, and that became such a coveted prize.
He had a stint or two in administration too, and tried using these to build bridges with his colleagues. He was blessed with many who were happy to give their best, and make him look good. His Golf wasn't exemplary, but among friends in beautiful surroundings, he got a Hole-in-one, not once, but twice.
