Mojmir Povolny

I met Mojimir at the very beginning of his long career at Lawrence. The subject he taught, international relations, was dominated by a grim school of “realism” about the hard realities of the Cold War. Although he was a clear-eyed observer of politics and diplomacy, Mojimir also embraced a more generous vision of human possibility – of the importance of ideals as well as power. “Democracy” and “human rights” were not abstractions to him or topics for academic inquiry alone. He understood...

To Dan and David:
You have my sympathy at this sad time. Because of love we are able to remain close to those who have already died. Our loved ones are always with us in all the memories we have of them.
I didn't take a class from your father at Lawrence, but I remember him. What a rich long life!

Our love and light surround the Povolny family now and through time. We are blessed to have known him the past three years and he lives in our hearts and memories. Our deepest sympathies. God bless you, Joy and family.

As someone else has already said, Lawrence--indeed the world--has lost one of its giants. Mr. Povolny was uniquely wonderful among a score of wonderful colleagues. He always addressed his students formally--by title and last name--which was very endearing and which made me feel respected. I wanted to do my best work for him because of his combination of high expectations on the one hand and great warmth and caring on the other. Whenever I saw him after the one Povolny class I took, he...

I first met Mojmir in 2010 when I was the Scarff Visiting Professor at Lawrence University. We shared a common Czechoslovak heritage and had many hours of discussion about history and the world. He was a wonderful and fascinating man who had had a dramatic and at times difficult life. But it was evident he found great happiness in his family, his students, and his role in promoting democracy and human rights. It is wonderful that he lived to see his former homeland liberated. The world needs...

I remember when Prof. Povolny commuted from Chicago to teach at Lawrence. --What an exemplary life intellectually, politically, and humanely. My life was richer having known him. --Linda Jessen '60

I extend deepest sympathies to the family of Dr. Povolny. My late husband and I met Dr. Povolny in the late 80s at the time of the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989 and at the time he traveled to then Czechoslovakia to help reform the civil life of the people of his homeland. In 1990 he spoke with the Wisconsin Czechs, Inc. and his enthusiasm and dedication in describing his work was truly exhilarating for all who attended that meeting. Dr. Povolny was a brilliant man, with a gentle soul and...

Professor Povolny was my Freshman Studies Professor my first term at Lawrence. What impressed me most about him was that he cared for his students not only as students, but as people. At the end of our course, he invited our class to dinner at his home. I never had another class with Professor Povolny, but anytime I saw him throughout my years at Lawrence, he never failed to stop to talk me, to find out how I was doing, what my plans were, how my parents were, etc. I wasn't fully aware of...