Dr. Phyllis J. Fleming

Miss Fleming was a wonderful person and an extraordinary teacher. She was an inspiration to me, and I have continued to remember her fondly throughout the years. I have happy memories of a visit I had with her (and her cat) at Hallowell House when I was at Wellesley in 2001 for my 40th class reunion. I took a chance and called her, thinking that she probably would not remember me after 40 years – but she did, and I’m so glad I took that chance.

As a freshman at Wellesley I planned...

Miss Fleming (as we called her then) was a fantastic teacher. I had the opportunity to take two or three classes from her, and I have never experienced any professor who was as aware as she was of how students were receiving her words. She could tell if anyone in the class was not "getting it," and then she would find another way to explain. (And she could do that in a way that would enrich the understanding of the students that DID get it the first time.)

I remember one time...

Dr. Fleming was my favorite professor! As a premed student, I was extremely nervous about taking physics. When I mentioned this to her and that I really needed to do "very well", she encouraged me to study hard but also suggested I could do my homework in her office and if I was stumped, she could help me.

I spent many delightful afternoons working through my physics homework (admittedly sneaking in a few cigarettes) and being inspired by this amazing, funny, incredibly bright and...

My sympathy to Miss Fleming's family and friends. I took her physics course as a freshman at Wellesley in the spring of 1962. She was a wonderful teacher and represented to me the model of a caring, inspirational professor.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to the partner, family, and friends of Dr. Fleming. I was privileged to have had her as a teacher in two physics courses at Wellesley. The first was 'Physics for Poets,' which was so fascinating and well-taught that it inspired me to go on to take a real physics course, which was excellent and which I thoroughly enjoyed. Through Dr. Fleming's superb teaching, I gained the confidence to take hard science courses and ultimately, to pursue a career in science...

I was one of four Physics majors in the class of 1960, and Miss Fleming was my advisor. She was a wonderful teacher and provided encouragement and inspiration to all her students. I remember a few of us studying for general exams at her house; she could explain complex things clearly and never lost patience with those of us who loved physics but who found it difficult.

I send my sympathy to all those close to her.

Professor Fleming was an inspiration. I have thought of her often through the years and am honored to have met her. (Wellesley, Class of '91)

As a freshman in 1955 I landed, for unexplained reasons, in Elementary Physics for chemistry majors. I had never had science as most of my elementary and high school years were in Europe. I was totally lost. Miss Fleming took pity on me, found out I played bridge. We played several times at her house after tutoring sessions. She coached me for the final exam and it became apparent I could arrive at a test answer but was hopeless at going through the usual method. At the final, a student who...

I had Phyllis Fleming for Physics I in Fall 1974. She was a fantastic teacher, who had handouts with diagrams and had perfected her speaking pace to allow for taking notes and being able to think about what she was saying! She was always available and made physics fun. And to think that I had avoided physics all through high school until my senior year at Wellesley. She is still one of my examples of the exemplary teaching I had at Wellesley.

I send my condolences to her friends...