All Posts Tagged With: "obituary"
Memories of Chancellor John Cribbet
A few days ago the University of Illinois lost one of its greatest leaders and legends, former Chancellor, Dean and Professor John Cribbet. Generations of Illinois College of Law alumni treasured Professor Cribbet, and Former U of I President Stan Ikenberry said, “John will be remembered as the most beloved Illini of all time.” There are several accounts online of Professor Cribbet’s life and legacy, including are articles prepared by the College of Law, the News Gazette, and the Chicago Tribune. and the College of Law will be having a ceremony to celebrate his contributions on Saturday.
Here with his permission, I would like to share the words of my friend and mentor, Dr. Stan Levy, former Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, who worked closely with Chancellor Cribbet when he led our University:
Today’s e-mail brought the news of the passing of Chancellor Emeritus and Professor Emeritus John Cribbet. He had been ill for quite some time.
John was a prince of a person, a one of a kind Illinois original. Distinguished scholar, teacher, college dean and administrator. community-minded for both the University and Champaign Urbana communities. Before it was reorganized the Senate Committee
on Student Discipline was totally college deans, and the junior dean was ‘honored’ in serving as its chair. John received this assignment during some of the most difficult days at UIUC. When Bill Gerberding elected to leave the Chancellor’s post after only 18 months on the job, John was asked, almost dragooned, into serving first as Acting Chancellor and then as Chancellor at a time when the University was under great stress, athletic issues and significant budget stresses especially. John distinguished himself in many ways. In the dark days of his tenure, and there were many, he was the ‘cheerleader’ who always saw the silver lining. He was always upbeat. His love for the University; his respect for faculty; his gracious way of dealing with his staff; his respect for the young leaders of the community, students, were always present. His stories – and his speeches – were always insightful and memorable. His words were always his own; he wrote his own materials. And then there were his stories: Ponca City, General Patton, etc., a small array woven into amazing contexts. He was a craftsman of the first rank in his use of language.
He was a terrific leader, a superb boss, a confidant, a good friend, and amazing supporter of what we sought to do in Student Affairs. He was a gentleman at every turn and time. His five years as Chancellor helped to change the face of the Campus. It was a distinct personal pleasure, and constant learning experience to work for John.
May he rest in peace.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in Rowe Auditorium at the College of Law.
Another Brilliant Champaign-Urbana Death
My buddy Mike, who lives in Milwaukee and is a devout Wilco follower, told me on the phone today about the death of former Wilco multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett. The Sun-Times and other newspapers report that the cause of death is unknown. Mike and I once watched I am Trying to Break Your Heart, which is a documentary about Wilco’s making of their fourth album: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The documentary also examines Bennett’s tumultuous relationship with the other Wilco band members, especially lead singer Jeff Tweedy. Wilco pressured Bennett out of the band. In cold February, Mike and I attended, alongside two beautiful gals, Tweedy’s solo concert at Foellinger Auditorium. I wonder whether Bennett attended that show.
On April 24, 2009, Bennett posted on his MySpace page an honest, sad, and warm explanation of his whereabouts and his need for hip replacement surgery. In early May, Bennett sued Tweedy for $50,000 in unpaid royalties he felt were owed to him for his role in the documentary I am Trying to Break Your Heart. He may have been desperate for money, as he explains in his MySpace post that he feared his lack of health insurance would prevent him from being able to pay for the hip replacement surgery.
Bennett is the most recent death among notable artists who have strong childhood or educational ties to Champaign-Urbana. David Foster Wallace, who has been discussed multiple times on this blog, hung himself in September 2008. I remember many years ago being in a Walden Books store with my Grandfather Bill Mills when he insisted that I should read a book called, The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang. It was a bestselling book in 1997. She grew up in Champaign-Urbana and studied journalism at the University. She seems to have been overwhelmed by bloody horrors of the subjects she wrote about. She shot herself in 2004. I’m sure there are others unknown to me.
There is something weird about Champaign-Urbana, something eerie and mystical. I don’t know what it is. I cannot describe it beyond claiming that it exists. I see it snaking by in the thick night while standing outside of Cafe Kopi talking to Jen, the old Zen poet. I can only say that I believe this shadow causes brilliant people from Champaign-Urbana to leave before they have shared the panoply of their ideas and wonder . . . But, I probably exaggerate.
A local blogger gave an excellent account of his friendship and collaboration with Bennett, “Jay was a genius and quite likely the greatest guitarist of our generation.”
Sleep well, Jay. I hope God cheerfully replaces your broken hip with one of your many instruments. Perhaps the concave corner of an acoustic guitar. I recognize that as a bizarre thought, but it is fitting in my mind.
Goofy Days of Youth and Without Fame. Jay Bennett (Left), Gaper's Blog Author (Center) and Jeff Tweedy (Right). Photo Courtesy of Gaper's Blog: http://gapersblog.typepad.com/photos/2005_holidays/jaykenjeff0002.html