I'll Never Forget That

by Dr. Jack Lippes

Henry Ten-Eyck Perry, from whom I took English, was tough on me.

My tendency to write rather flowery, complex sentences was an anathema to Professor Perry. He would always mark my papers: "You must learn to write simply!!" When the final exam came, we had to read one act from one of the Shakespearean plays - and then we had to interpret it. And boy, after reading it, and trying to understand it, I looked up and had maybe fifteen minutes to write this essay. Well, I just wrote as fast as I could whatever came into my head to get it down. My English improved, and Professor Perry wrote: "At last! You finally learned to write simply!"

There was Dr. Shine. He was also in English, and taught me an appreciation of English Literature. And Dr. Dolly in Comparative Anatomy, who was a very kind and gentle man and inspiring. Dr. Jones in Psychology and Dr. Woodward in Chemistry were both great. Dr. Post in Organic Chemistry was helpful and always interested in his students' work; Professor Harriet Montague taught me Calculus, which was a great help for me later in Physics. Dr. Alfred Shadle provided the basics of Biology, and Dr. Spencer carried us all forward in Botany.

I took one course with Nathaniel Cantor - Criminology and Penology - and he was a very interesting man. He gave a certain breadth and depth to my undergraduate education. That was in 1942 or '43.

They all impressed me as being dedicated teachers interested in their students, interested in their subjects, willing to teach and willing to have their offices interrupted to answer questions. The undergraduate education was just superb, and I'll never forget that. That's a memory of the University at Buffalo - I can't think of a single professor, teacher, or instructor I had whom I didn't actually like. Not one. I can't think of a single one who was ever mean or unfair. Even if they were tough with me, they were fair. Even if they were tough with my cohorts, they were fair. And I always felt that was a tremendous accolade for that faculty.