What an Amazing Person

I still remember the first day I met Gonzaga. I was in my last semester of my undergraduate degree (Spring of 2000) and had returned from internship for one of the few on campus meeting days we had that final semester. The same day the department was also conducting interviews for the open professor positions and we were lucky enough to get to talk with the candidates (I too remember Gonzaga in the suit that day). Honestly at that point, I couldn’t have cared less what the candidates were saying as I was graduating. Really, now as I look back, I can’t believe how important that day was in my life and how lucky I was that Gonzaga took that position at SJSU.

Gonzaga was an amazing professor. He pushed his students to the limits of their capabilities because he cared about them and wanted them to achieve greatness. He was one of the hardest working people I have ever met. I never took a class from Gonzaga, but I do have very fond memories of Gonzaga’s early years at SJSU. Back then he would often sit in on the graduate classes of the other professors, which you could always count on going from the regular lecture to a lively debate. I would not have finished my degree without him. While he didn’t let me off easy, he also refused to let me fail.

Gonzaga was a great friend. For some reason after I finished graduate school I actually got to see Gonzaga more often. At first we would have a reason for getting together (intern discussion, a presentation I was making for one of his classes or something else professionally related), but as we went on we just started getting together to talk over lunch. I never told him how much this actually meant to me as he was one of the very few people in my life I felt comfortable enough to speak openly with on anything.

Gonzaga cared. That is what I will remember the most. I can’t even remember how or when Gonzaga became such a big part of my life, but I do know that without him I would not be the person I am today. His belief in me actually inspired me on to things I thought I would never do. Last semester Gonzaga invited me in to one of his classes to speak. I would do this every semester for at least one of his classes. When he introduced me he told the class the story of his interview day and his meeting with the class of undergraduates that I was in. He pointed to the back of the room and the spot I was sitting in that day 9 years ago and jokingly told them a story about remembering a goofy kid in shorts and a t-shirt that couldn’t wait to get out of class. He remembered this because he really cared. I know that I was special to Gonzaga, but I know that because to him we were all special. He cared about everyone of us, his students, his colleagues, his friends, his family, and all those disadvantaged that needed caring the most. I am proud to have known such a great person.

Goodbye my friend. You will be missed.

Chris Ghione

Morgan Hill, CA

Is that my friend Gonzaga?

Passing through the hallways I often heard, "is that my friend Braaaandi?" and was always greeted with a huge smile. Finding out about Gonzaga's passing has shaken my family and a piece of us has darkened. My husband, Glenn, and I spent many hours with Gonzaga during our time at San Jose State University. Gonzaga was a wonderful man with an open and loving heart. I often felt other's didn't see in Gonzaga what we saw and loved. He helped me through a very difficult time when a family member had passed, Gonzaga's compassion during that time will never be forgotten. I only wish we had been able to say good bye and I can only hope he knew how much he meant to me and Glenn. Gonzaga truly was one of a kind- and has obviously touched many lives. I've attached a photo of Glenn, Gonzaga, BJ, and me at a scholarship breakfast- we will forever miss our buddy Gonz.

Brandi & Glenn Dionne

Class of 2006

Sacramento, CA

Dear Gonzaga

Dear Gonzaga,

I am saddened as so many are. Perhaps you are too. Did you think as you passed of unfinished things? Your To Do List was always long and exciting, but I think you had no reason to look back. The testimonials to your life are amazing, don’t you think? You must be grinning because I believe you knew just who you were meant to be and you did yourSELF (as we used to say) proud (your mother and father, too). Csikzentmihalyi would be proud, too... you were true to yourSELF!

Since retiring, I have missed our philosophy discussions, chewing over ideas and debating grounded research. You loved the playground of the mind; it was more real than the trivial tangibles tripping us up every day. You were driven by those ideas and debatable situations... eager to leap forward, to get somewhere no one else had explored, to make the world a better place, and to bring others along in the adventure. Often, I was a weight dragging on your foot, nagging about the reality the rest of us experienced... evaluations, publication, promotion, tenure, administrative details, organizing our offices... you know! In good humor, you politely listened, then went on with what was more important - the student, the colleague, the challenge, the discovery. And there you have it... a life of time too short for those you have left behind, but a life fully lived with all your remarkable capacity.

Thank you, Gonzaga, for taking me along for part of your journey. It was precious.

Love,
Moe

(You were one of two allowed to call me that - because you named me with caring.)

Maureen Glancy
Professor Emerita
SJSU