Oberlin College and Conservatory
Class of 1968
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Dear friends,
How can I do justice in writing about Connie Powell Chin, a true adventurer, exuberant lover of life, and lifelong friend? I can hear her enthusiastic voice and her upbeat laugh! A highly perceptive individual yet also very unassuming, Connie was always interested in a new vantage point, willing to explore new horizons, open to new experiences. Just as an example, I still remember vividly when we were at Oberlin her detailed and enthusiastic description of the Gullah language in South Carolina where she had lived. Her intellectual curiosity and genuine appreciation for other cultures were apparent.Just think, her master's thesis was completed in 2012 at age 66 at San Jose State while working at Stanford! It is a brilliant and highly original work illustrated with maps titled "Georgraphy and Social Structure of Monasteries: Cultural Diffusion or Convergent Evolution?"
http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/e
Connie was a person of so many dimensions: teaching overseas in Hong Kong and then at Tunghai University where she met her husband, Ernest, and married on Yangmingshan. Learning foreign languages, playing the cello, always exploring. We spoke by phone before the Oberlin reunion and she told me she had cancer and wasn't sure if she would be well enough to travel. She was incredibly proud of her son, David Chin, who completed his Ph.D. at the University of California at Davis and landed a teaching job at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. https://www.umass.edu/sphhs/person/david-chin
Stanford University has created a writing prize in her honor:
https://ealc.stanford.edu/news
When I spoke to her about the loss of my son, Alex, she shared with me a way to keep from breaking out into tears with a story that ended with, "Change the channel." Connie, always a brave and noble soul who is already greatly missed!
How could it be possible that Mark is no longer living? He seemed always to be the source of so much life at Oberlin. He sang, often with his guitar, joyously, posivitely, generously in groups that assembled for political movements and in groups involved in events of joy and companionship. He entertained so many of us at French house where he did the evening announcements. He loved puns and visited them upon us mercilessly. He was always committed to social justice. After he graduated he ended up commiting himself to the religious world in Africa, braving the dangers of the Kimbanguinist branch of Christianity. He did much else with the World Council of Churches, always fearlessly but always lovingly. It was impossible not to like Mark. He wanted the best for all with whom he came into contact. If he made any enemies, I would be surprised. He was that unusual combination of a man with firmly held convictions and a man who could respect (though not agree with) all points of view. The world needs more people like Mark, and it is diminished by his untimely passing.
I am very sorry to learn of this. I had a wonderful conversation with Mark and his wife (I believe), catching up at our 50 year reunion lunch at Kendal. A wonderful person!
Posted on: Jan 24, 2021 at 1:30 PM
Happy Days are here again!
Gideon was the bookends on my time at Oberlin, From opening day of Freshman orientation to graduation, with alphabetical seating, we sat next to each other: Schein and Scheinman. In the four years in between, we went to France together and shared moments. We sat in Finney Chapel and listened to Rostropovich play. We talked and walked and forged a deep friendship. I lost track of him for a while. I got married and moved one way and he moved another. And then one day I got a call from his mother. She was helping him with an Oberlin fundraiser at the New York Public Library. And we reconnected.
From then on, in some ways, our lives intertwined . We celebrated birthdays together every year, as his was the day before mine. My 50th birthday was a huge party celebrated in his apartment. He was with me from beginning to end of the party I threw for myself to celebrate 70. We went to concerts. We ate well. We shared emotional pain and highs. We supported each other through thick and thin. Divorces-his, breakdowns-mine, illness-his. I connected him with a friend, a cardiologist, who became so important in his life for many years. I spoke with him last week, after he came home from the hospital, and before he returned for the last time. It seemed he would beat the odds yet again. But it was not to be. My rational mind accepted the inevitable on Monday and Tuesday. Every day since then has been harder to bear. He could be infuriating. Seemed to know everything. Had all the answers. He knew and I knew it wasn’t so. But he was so smart, so well read, so educated, in all ways. My life is emptier right now. But so much fuller for having him in it.
Sleep well my dear friend. You deserve it.
Gideon was for me a commanding presence, in equal parts intimidating and inspiring. I spent time with him in French house where he showed an impressive command of the language. And I recall that he was always surrounded by women who seemed attracted to him because of his respect, kindness and sense of purpose. He knew what he was about and demonstrated amazing talents in directing (I believe) a German language play on campus. We weren't really friends, but I admired how thoughtful he was, never without a well-considered opinion about language, literature, living arrangements at Oberlin...you name it. His was an effortlessly imposing presence. He lived life at 140%, and I marveled at where he got all his energies and his talent. He was a driving force on the French House soccer team and offered explicit directions to those of us who knew little about the game. I remember once asking myself, ''How does he know all this stuff?'' He enriched my life at Oberlin as a model for what a classmate could be and do but I recall keeping him at some distance the way you would keep a revered teacher or guru at a respectful distance. To say that he was awesome is no exaggeration.
I am very sorry to learn of this. I had thought Gideon was doing much better. We were lucky to have him as our class president and will miss him greatly.
I was so sad to learn of Steve's death, and it has taken me awhile to know what to say! He was such an important part of my life at Oberlin, adding spice to the otherwise grueling study schedule I, and so many of us, maintained. He and his Alpha Q "fraternity" brothers pushed the envelope, in good fun; and those of us who could tag along greatly benefited. Steve and I enjoyed so many times together--very hard to recount and I probably shouldn't! I am not surprised to know he loved luxury cars--he certainly loved his motorcycle! Rest in Peace, Steve. You were a really good guy.
What a sad notice to wake up to. So many laughs and good times. He expressed so many of my insecurities and helped me grow up. Dearly missed.
Posted on: Nov 12, 2020 at 6:25 AM
Happy birthday!
Posted on: Oct 29, 2020 at 1:20 PM
Have a good one, Paul. You certainly deserve a lot of joy.
Posted on: Oct 03, 2020 at 4:03 PM
Hope that your birthday went well with lots of social distancing and a lot of virtual contacts with friends and family. Best to your family.
Posted on: Aug 28, 2020 at 6:45 AM
Happy Birthday Dwight. May it be the beginning of a good year for you.
That really hurts. She was such a wonderful person. What a loss to everyone, especially her family and those who knew her. Those who didn't know her also lost because they never had the opportunity to be involved with her.
Posted on: Aug 18, 2020 at 1:22 PM
https://www.morningjournal.com/news/lorain-county/oberlin-college-employees-say-goodbye-during-parade/article_e3c1d29e-df2c-11ea-a5c2-c75c0fef14f6.html
So where do we send our checks?