R. JOSEPH SCHORK

I had Joe for Virgil´s Aeneid my first semester at John Carroll University. His style, panache, brilliance, wit and scholarship bowled me over. The class lingers in my memory today, 63 years later! Joe took a liking to my writing in the student newspaper and he and his wife invited me and my future wife to his carriage house home in Cleveland for lunch. I was devastated when he left John Carroll before I had a chance to take another of his classes. Such a great teacher and motivator.

I learned today of Joe´s passing. I had the distinct pleasure of having Professor Schork teach me Ancient Greek among other things in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Not only a fantastic teacher, he was a mentor. He took me to get my first beer when I turned 21. I was lucky to know him. The person I am is a direct result of the force Joe was. My deepest sympathy to his family and my condolences.

I knew Joe as Pats - the ever devoted father and grandfather to Heidi and Sophia. Sophia and her pal, my son, could write a book of Life with Pats.

Joe was a brilliant Joycean colleague, but always a fellow Cleveland homeboy. Requiescat in pace.

My heartfelt sympathies on the passing of a wonderful man. My first course in the Classics Department at UMass, Boston was with Professor Schork (Paganism and Christianity). That was it; I was hooked and all in. He was an exciting and entertaining instructor, vehemently opposed to high falutin pretense, and had an ability to make all manner of seemly incidental sidebars relevant to the Classics. He will be missed.

I too was lucky enough to be a student in the University of Massachusetts, Boston campus, Classics department in the early 80´s. I remember Professor Schork not only from my four years there, but also as a friend for many many years afterwards. I also became lifelong friends with his amazing daughter, Heidi. As a professor, RJ was captivating, dynamic, inspiring, funny, effectual, and generous with his time. I am very grateful today to have studied with a professor of his caliber; indeed,...

It was an honor to have studied Classics under Professor Schork at UMass Boston in the early 1980s. One of his best courses was "From Paganism to Christianity." Professor unique manner of presenting course materials brought ancient history and culture to life in the classroom. Along with Professor Emily McDermott and a few other teachers in the Classics Department, Professor Schork inspired many, many students to develop an appreciation for a liberal arts education, and, subsequently, to...