Jon was an inspiring scholar and a teacher…

Jon was an inspiring scholar and a teacher, as well as an extremely supportive, generous colleague and a dean. The attention and support I received from him on my scholarship has been absolutely essential during my early years at Mount Holyoke. Since both of our research has been focused on human rights, I found conversations with Jon immensely valuable. I will never forget the time when he talked about my book in his report during one of the faculty meetings, and when he took the time to attend my book event at the Odyssey. I felt so valued and affirmed as a junior scholar. Jon always made time and gave space for questions, advice, and deliberation. He was welcoming, honest, and open. His integrity and dedication were exemplary. He will be missed sorely…

“Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or Sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, some- where very near, just round the corner. All is well.”

Elif Babül