Abbott Fay's Website Is it a RED TIE day?

Abbot had quite an influence on my life. Didn't know he had passed away till today. I took one of his Western Civ classes in '72, talked to him in his office, couldn't follow a whole lot of what he was saying, but I had always loved history and he convinced me to change my major...then History of China and Japan, History of India, I forget what all else...a few months later, on my 21st birthday, my hair went from 18 inches long to about 1/4 inch, and I was in Abbot's program - there was no name for it that I knew of at the time, never liked the name Abbot's Rabbits (that came up later). I learned a lot from him, both in the classroom and otherwise. One of the funniest things I remember in regard to him was a Quigley Club meeting where Abbot sent a cryptic note about his not being able to attend that day, to be read to the group, and signed it A. Pheigh, and some guy who should have been smart enough to get it, just couldn't figure out who that could be. I also was involved with an Interlock series of courses that studied the ancient interaction of Greek and Hebrew cultures and how both fed into what became Christianity and Western civilization. Abbot and Dr. Ted C. "Thunderclap" Johnson in the English and drama department were my mentors and I learned a lot; unfortunately, I had to quit school and never was able to go as far into that study as I had planned. Now that I'm deeply involved in contemplative prayer/ centering prayer, a la the Trappists of Snowmass whom I first heard about from Abbot, and am studying early Christian history in depth for a book I'm writing on centering prayer, my life seems to have come full circle in some ways. Thanks, Abbot, for the tremendous part you played. Without you my life wouldn't have been the same, and wouldn't have been nearly as interesting.

Gary Hassig
WSC 1970-73
wonderfool2@msn.com

My name is David Smith. I'm the son of Gordon and Gloria Smith and Abbott and Joan were good life long friends of my parents going back to their Greeley Days of College. Abbott was at my parents Wedding in 1949. I remember our family being hosted by the Faye family on at least two occasions and our Family hosting the Faye family at least once at our home in Fremont, Calif. in the middle 1960's. Talk about a lifetime ago.

Abbott stopped by on other occasions when he was traveling on other business. I remember one time in the 1970's during a visit when he talked about taking the rocks from the quarry and loading the trunk of his car. When he and his students visited Washington they would quietly drop the rocks from the quarry to drive the caretakers of the monuments in DC crazy. After all, they were the same rocks as what the monuments were made out of.

My dad Gordon died in 1985. But in 1999 I had the pleasure of having breakfast with Abbott and Joan. My mom Gloria loved the conversation with old close friends from the past. We found out that the Kelly's were no longer with us.

We lost touch with Abbott and Joan a year or so after that. We thought maybe they had died. The letters came back and the phones were disconnected. My mom would have really treasured some more conversations and exchanges of letters with Joan and Abbott. My mom, Gloria Smith passed away on her 84th birthday of cancer on March 26, 2011. She was the first female student body president ever elected in the state of Colorado and she never ran for the position. She was extremely well liked and her entire class drafted her over protests of the administration without a single no vote. Loveland High, 1944. In a way it's good to know she can be reunited with old friends again and not in pain anymore. Again, I know she would have treasured more conversations with Abbott. He was a wonderful person.

I was not all that interested in history when I first showed up at Western. With the war in Viet Nam in full gear ('69-'70) and the draft an ever constant threat, college looked like a pretty good place to just hole up for awhile. Then I had the good fortune of signing up for a history class taught by professor Fay. I think it was the history of Colorado or the West. I was just looking for something easy and fun to bide my time with. WOW! For the first time in my life I was sitting at the feet of a teacher who truly loved to teach. I'm sure I completed every class he taught. The history of India, China and Japan, subjects that before meeting Abbott would have held little appeal for me I now found fascinating because he found them fascinating. His enthusiasm was contagious. Although I majored in History with a teaching minor I have yet to pursue that career path. My lifelong enjoyment of history and philosophy was firmly set by this beloved professor. I continue my life long study of history to this day. My wife and I were early pioneers in the home-schooling movement in Colorado and I am currently teaching a history class to local home-school students in Montana. Sorry Mr. Vandenbush and Professor Beck---- Abbott Fay was the best!
Steve Wagner

I posted comments earlier, but since Mr. Fay's passing I felt the need to write again.

What a great man he was. I first was in his "World Civilization" class at Mesa Junior College in the early 1960's. At Mesa, Abbott and Don MacKendrick made up an exceptional history department. When Abbott moved on to Western State College he became part of a department which included William Edmondson, Daniel Day, and Duane Vandenbesche. What can I say other than "fantastic." I loved each and every class I took.

Mr. Fay was an exceptional teacher, and his history lessons appealed to everybody who sat in his classes.

I was honored to have him choose my middle school classroom when he would teach extension classes in Delta.

I was a history teach for 35 years, returing in 2000.

I really don't know Abbott's religious beliefs, but if there is a Heaven he will be there, and will be surrounded by all those who knew and loved him, as well as those who want to learn history.

Truly, Abbott Fay will be missed. However, he leaves behind some beautiful memories.

Gary Burke
Delta, Colorado

Today I drove from Crested Butte to hear Abbott Fay speak on "Delta Stories" to benefit the Delta Friends of the Libary. It had been on my calendar for months. I wore a red tie. When I arrived for the event I was told Mr. Fay had died on March 12th. I so wanted to tell him that he was a GREAT teacher and an inspiration in my life. I was a history major at WSC from l964-1968. I took as many classes as possible from Professor Fay. I was part of the infamous class that demonstrated Peaceful Resistance to avoid the final exam. That he actually respected our application of the principle still is large in my mind. Professor Fay so skillfully enchanted me with the history of the east that I later spent two years travelling and studying in India, Nepal and other parts of S.E. Asia. I also realized that my true passion was Comparative Religion because of the focus of Professor Fay's classes. I studied and investigated all the world's great religions. I taught for 30 years, not history, but life science to middle school students. I always kept Abbott Fay in my vision of engaging students with the magic and the hands-on-meaning of learning. I hope I succeeded. What a great life he created for himself and how much he added to all the lives that he touched along the way. I have his books and they are carried by the Mountain Heritage Museum in Crested Butte. My sister, Mary Yaklich also attended Western State and remembers Mr. Fay with great respect and esteem. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Sincerely, Trudy Yaklich

I was employed by Mesa College in 1956; Abbott had arrived a year earlier. He was teaching philosophy, history, and journalism. He and his wife, Joan, became close fiends with my wife and me. We had great adventures with their three children and our three, including many joint holiday dinners together. Abbie and I loved to discuss every world and human event. He and I climbed Colorado mountains together. We attended together the July 4th fireworks in the Western State football stadium. He and I would stroll through the darkened streets of Gunnison talking; then stop in at an open church late at night and sitting in a back pew discussing world issue. Over the years they would visit us in Madison, Wisconsin and Decatur, Illinois; and we would come back to their homes in Paonia and Palisade Colorado. Abbie was not one to use the latest devices; he preferred to write his many books on his faithful old typewriter - and then he would hand write beautiful articulate messages to us for special occasions. We will miss our visits and telephone calls with a person who was the very best of friends. Walt

Dear Mrs. Fay and Family,

I was greatly saddened to read about the passing of Mr. Fay. I had the unique pleasure of having him as a professor at Mesa Junior College in 1960-61 and then at Western State College as a senior and graduate student. I arrived at Mesa as a clueless freshman not knowing what I wanted to do in life. It is no exaggeration to say that after only a few days in his classroom and that of his colleage, Don MacKendrick, I knew I wanted to major in history and be a teacher. Ten years ago I retired from School District #51 after a 34 year career. I know of countless others he inspired in the same way.

Please know that there are so many of us that grieve with you today. He was one of those unique individuals who gave inspiration and direction to so many lives.

If there is anything I can do during this difficult time, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Max Stites

I have just read the remarks about the early "classic period" of Fay at Mesa. I guess I represent the middle period from 1968---74. The history department at Western was still intact and the creative juices were flowing within the department. I remember Fridays were office "rat" days. Those students, who used office hours to advance their interests, would hang out at the end of the day and the profs that were still there would raffle off the "freebees" they would get from publishers with the requirement that we read the tome if it was duly given you. At Mesa there was the Circle K club at Western there was the Q club. I was a president one year. Along with the service we promised and delivered it was a chance to be eccentric. Ah" traffic death" Fridays with a stern reminder to drive safely by the highway patrol always came with a toast from that crimson glass of tomato juice. Or the weekly kidnapping of the morning speaker, that year we had members who had a fetish for the Mongol horde, so it was fitting that "our" unwilling guests would show bond and gagged. All those great mornings followed by a "bar sinister" salute as we were all "bastards" by choice. I have been teaching history and other subjects for over thirty-four years and am still going strong. Much of that is Abbott Fay--- "Don't let the bastards wear you down!" the secret is to be a bastard yourself, then it is all cake.

You were my professor in the fall and spring of 1975, for classes of Western and Eastern Philosophy. Little did I know what was in store when my roommate at the time was enrolled in another one of your other classes. The class was studying dictatorships, and you had "guards" standing in the front of class to help students get a feel for "tyranny". My roommate staged a "coup" by absconding with some important class papers and then using them for extortion. He demanded that you declare him an anonymous "Liberator" for the fellow students, as well as to cease giving tests, etc. Even as you "winked" at the "overthrow" of your "rule"-- you gradually undermined the class' excitement about the Liberator's true intentions--that the Liberator, whoever it might be, was only out for themselves--and so you ultimately created a class uproar against the Liberator, leading to the return of your "rule". My roommate and the class learned a bigger lesson than could have ever been read out of books.

During a break in the "negotiations" at our college apartment, you also answered questions about your discipline program, which was independent of your other classes, and I was soon enrolled. For 10 weeks I learned about "fa" and "li" disciplines--externally vs. internally imposed disciplines--and I think of this time as a rite of passage. My life turned from reactively drifting to proactively focussed, and I learned about self-respect, self-responsibility, humility and genuine love for others and myself.

I've carried those lessons since that time--that self-identity doesn't reside in appearance, and that each of us have unique gifts to develop and offer to the greater world. THANK YOU Professor Fay--through your teaching and example, you made a profound difference in my life, which has continued to ripple outwards.

David Johnson
Lake Mills, Wisconsin