I would like to read a quote from Thomas Watson, an American businessman.  I think that truly characterizes Stan.

“Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker.  Explore your ideas to the dangers of controversy.  Speak your mind and fear less the label of “crackpot” than the stigma of conformity.  And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost.”

I mentioned about this to Stan and thanked him for teaching me this important life lesson.  His reply was that he didn’t think that he was the one who taught me that.  Rather, he said, he found that in me from the start and he may have reinforced it.  This reply became the very last email message from him, and two weeks later he passed away.

So, today, I would like to thank him for finding the quality in me and reinforcing it.  I first met Stan when I took his 622 course.  Ever since then, he inspired me and encouraged me.  He rescued me from the horrible state of mind that I was in, which I call H.I.S, or Housewife Inferiority Syndrome, walked along with me, taking me forward one step at a time, ever so patiently.  What I would like to convey today to my fellow students is that all of these wonderful things Stan did for me, he would have done for any of you, if you just happened to knock on his door.  He was a generous and embracing man.

Anyway, it was just last semester that I told him that I wanted to study the case-marking system in Polynesian languages.  He was very pleased and said, “O.K.  I think we are ready.  Let’s go conquer the world.”  Well, our army was very small, with only a commander-in-chief and one soldier.  Moreover, the commander was the only one who was ready, so now that he is gone, the soldier has no idea in which direction to go to.  Thus, our world conquest is on the back burner for now.

But Stan definitely lit a torch in me.  And though all I can do for now is to keep the flame burning, I can hear him say, “don’t worry, take your time…”

So, Stan, I send you “Aroha” in its true sense in Maori: A Salute with the highest respect, to you with whom I shared life breath.

Kia ora,