Lydia Fakundiny

Lydia was the most inspirational teacher I hever had. That was in the very early 1970's. I'll never forget her.

Dr. Fakundiny was a master level (English) college professor. She taught me independently in the evening at Federal City College, since I worked during day. She made an exception for me. We sat in the bay window of her Capitol Hill home in Washington, DC, as she taught, shared, and imparted the history of the English language to me. She declared (and she did) she would show me the contributions of my people to the history (and culture) of English language. She gifted some of her academic...

I don't know why, but lately I have thought a great deal about Lydia and all she taught me. I had her during my junior year at Cornell. It was a tumultuous time for me--- I had dropped out of school for roughly 18 months. I had her class during my first semester back.

She was wonderful. She was challenging. She was tough. She was nurturing. She was one of my favorite professors ever. I spent a lot of time visiting her during her office hours, not necessarily to talk about...

I had Lydia as an freshman English teacher in 1966 at Eastern Kentucky University. She sent my life in a trajectory that is still in motion. She was 25; I was 18. Learning of her passing makes me sad. The world in less without her. I miss you, Lydia.

I had the fortune to think often about Professor Fakundiny in the last few weeks as a result of a return to writing, and the misfortune to not have thought of returning to writing - and to her - earlier. It was so long ago that I took her Narrative Writing course as a freshman that I have trouble remembering very many details, and yet so much of that class is embedded in my heart. I will remain forever grateful to this beloved teacher and friend for first believing in me, and then for...

A seemingly simple freshman seminar, "Writing from Experience," was transformed into a lifelong love of writing for me (and I imagine, many many others), by Professor Fakundiny. Lydia saw something in me that I didn't know I possessed, pulled it out of me throughout a very challenging semester, and I have been grateful for her generosity of spirit ever since. I hope Lydia knew what a truly remarkable professor, and person, she was. May she rest in peace...and possibly even feel our...

You are forever in my heart. Thank you for challenging me to be a stronger writer and person.

Lydia taught me to love the essay. Her class is one of the few that stay with me to this day. I was doubly sad to hear this news: I had been planning to send her a copy of my book when it came out in September--one I could never have written without her class.

I was so blessed to have Lydia as a teacher. She was an amazing educator who demanded as much as she gave. I am so saddened to hear this news.