John Cahir

This one hurts a lot as I have considered John one of my closest friends for some 64 years. We met as graduate students at Penn State when we were resident hall counselors at the brand new Pollock Halls for the 1960-1961 school year. That year was a great experience and one filled with countless memories with a great group of guys who were resident hall counselors at Pollock. Led by coordinator Bill Schimpf, our group of counselors replicated the famous "Rat Pack" in many ways!!!! Chief among...

I met John in the 1990s when, as vice provost for UG studies, he was spearheading efforts to encourage "active learning" in the classroom. I was then a department head in a department where active learning was the norm. I enjoyed enthusiastic discussions with John about positive changes in higher education; he subsequently nominated me to join a group that allowed me to enjoy ongoing interaction with John. I will always remember John as a gracious, sincere individual whom I'm proud to have...

I worked for John Cahir for several years when he was Vice Provost. He was generous, practical, competent, engaged, and, most importantly, made decisions with student learning and welfare at the forefront. I had frequent one-on-one meetings with him and always found him accessible to consider any issue I brought to him. I felt like he treated me like he was my uncle, but I am sure many can report the same. I don't know what these "misadventures" were that are referenced, but anyone who...