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Dr. Dale Alan Collins
Dr. Dale Alan Collins
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Sonja Collins
September 5, 2010
Today is your birthday.You would have been 45 years old today and we miss you so very much. We love you so much! Garn
Deni Gibbs
September 21, 2008
My deepest sympathies to the Collins family. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Collins at Coastal Carolina University. He was my professor and he made a strong impression on me in and out of the classroom. He is the most intelligent person I have ever known and he is the most giving person I have ever met. His kindness and humor will surely be missed.
Travis Porco
September 16, 2008
Our prayers and condolances
go out to his family.
Back at Gibbs High School in the fall of 1977, Dale already had
the determined sense of humor he had from then on. Back then,
it was magic tricks and Mad magazine. From slapstick to clever puns to
the theater of the absurd, humor was part and parcel of who he was. But the
humor was not ultimately shallow and never harsh and biting---he seems to have
just wanted to get the most out of the moments. Some time we came across a
quotation from Aron Nimzovich, "True humor often contains more inner truth
than the most serious seriousness", a saying Dale got a kick out of because it
seemed like such a self-evident statement of obvious truth to him. The
Hacker's Jargon File defines "ha ha only serious" as applying especially to
parodies, absurdities, and ironic jokes that are both intended and perceived to contain
a possibly disquieting amount of truth, or truths that are constructed on in-joke and
self-parody, and this describes perfectly a good deal of--maybe not all of--but a good deal
of the humor Dale wove in and out of his life.
One can almost see him, were he to have heard this, pushing his glasses up and saying something
like, "Right, right, but I never thought that much about it." One gets the
feeling he would never have wanted to be taken terribly seriously in a way---the one thing he
really couldn't stand was a pompous know-it-all. People who took themselves too seriously could
wind up on the receiving end of his formidable wit. At the same time, one got the impression once in
a while that he was a bit disappointed at people he thought didn't really understand how ultimately
serious he was in his life. (Once as a graduate student, during the long dark night of the dissertation, he joked, "You think I'm a
snuckster!"---a classic ha, ha, only serious moment---one could only laugh "absolutely and certainly not!")
You could see it once in a while when he could suddenly stop in the middle of joking and say something
very serious, perhaps to reassure someone or to make sure nobody took a bit of ribbing the wrong way. Dale
certainly took his life's work in teaching seriously. Dale was always an internationalist;
it's hard to imagine him without a few foreign language dictionaries (in the seventh grade, it was
Spanish, German, and Russian dictionaries; in the eleventh he'd ordered an Albanian dictionary at a bookstore
in Halls and took delight in puzzling the clerks as to why; was there any language or place or people he didn't
find interesting?) But it wasn't abstract internationalism; he just found people from all walks of life
interesting; he just liked to meet people from all over. (Actually his love of languages was so great that
he invented languages, complete with vowel-shift patterns from Latin, detailed histories and geographies;
Dale would have enjoyed the language construction conference that was held in Berkeley in 2007.)
He reveled in meeting unusual or eccentric
people and enjoyed recouting things they said.
He also enjoyed reading about eccentric people, such as the mathematician
Paul Erdos; for some months Dale's emails were full of
Erdosisms (though mathematics didn't arouse Dale's passions)! The same was true of
Nimzovich; Dale took no great interest in chess, but Nimzovich was the sort of colorfully
eccentric character Dale loved to read about. Nimzovich was a rich source of humorous
references, including the phrase the blackest melancholy (usually sang in an
ironically melodramatic sing song). Chess was also the source of another of his favorite
humorous references: the line, "why don't you move your knight and put him in check?"---a reference
to a kibitzer who suggested a foolish move during a game in high school. The knight in question
would have been pointlessly lost "just to put him in check"; the absurdity of the comment plus the
chance to put a know-it-all in his place ensured Dale got a chuckle out of it for thirty years (though Dale would not have wanted to embarass whomever that was).
And that is typical too of Dale---how small incidents in life became woven into the story, never to
be discarded, as part of the value of life itself. Dale seems to have remembered everything, and I don't
think it was an accident he was so fired up after reading the story Funes, the Memorious by
Borges he insisted on reading it out loud at his grandparents' one time. In any event,
years later he could recall effortlessly some
minor incident, such as a bus driver slamming a door in Miami in response to the question, "Is this
where you catch the 36 Special?" Or one of his professors referring to Knoxville as "Knoxpatch"; from then
on "noxpatch" was never forgotten---but the joke was not on Knoxville, but on stuffed shirts who thought
they were too good for the place.
And that brings up another characteristic feature of Dale---he loved his home town and family.
Anyone who knew him knew how close he was to his family and how often he spoke about Karla! It's not hard to see that his views and
choice of vocation were influenced by his father, also a Spanish teacher.
Dale's profound fascination with internationalist life was just genuine interest; he was never running away
from anything in his home area. He enjoyed East Tennessee (once conducting a project to compare East
Tennessee with the Fortaleza region of Brazil), without being a flag-waver, however.
Dale was in fact light-years from harsh and prideful nationalism; he was utterly unselfconsciously loyal to the '60s as he saw them. When
visiting Berkeley once he recognized Wavy Gravy on sight in a coffee-shop, knew all about Woodstock (though
Dale would have been 3 or 4 at the time), and was delighted to talk to him. Dale several times mentioned
the John Lennon song Imagine which Dale seems to have really identified with.
Dale had strongly-held political views, but it was characteristic of him to be disappointed with friends who
did not share them, but to avoid quarreling over it.
Dale's musical tastes were eclectic and far-ranging; he sent people copies of a tape of Andean flute music
at one time, and went thru a period of enjoying Amon Duul. His brother Stuart got him interested in the
Residents in high school; from then on, asking Dale where Skinny was born would guarantee a chuckle at least.
It was typical of his open-mindedness and internationalism that Dale explored religious views from all
over the world. He read the Bhagavad Gita and explored both Buddhism and the Baha'i faith and spoke
highly of some Mayan indigenous beliefs. The idea that any culture's religious views could be worthless would
have shocked him; he was willing to look hard to find the good in all of them. One could ask Dale's views
of any religion and get a reasoned answer, however; the only things Dale seemed to really find objectionable
were narrow-mindedness and intolerance (he once bitterly mocked somebody who was trying to convert him to some
Eastern cult).
The last email I got was on September 3, saying he would stay in a brick building on "cam(platy)pus" if Hurricane Hanna came his way (as ever, never missing a chance for a wordplay).
We never finished the discussion of religion we'd been emailing about.
Old friend, I'll have to catch up with you when we meet again on that side---
Marijan Kolic
September 16, 2008
It is with great sadness that I learned of my friend of many years passing today. I would like to share some memories of him with family, friends, teaching colleagues, and students of his.
One fond memory is simply sitting in a booth in Bloomington, IN's fabled Nick's English Hut, sharing a pitcher of beer with him and his fellow Tennessean Robert Montgomery, who introduced Dale to me. We would talk about what Folk Singer Tom Paxton once humorously referred to as "Chaos, Watermelons, and Everything" - I never expected anything from Dale, but he was generous beyond most with his time, and gentle manners. Yet, at the same time, he could crack a joke right in the middle of serious topic. He was both sublime & ridiculous, in turn, and then back again...
I learned how to do impressions of people by watching him do "spot-on" mimics of Elvis Presley, and Richard M. Nixon. He helped me become a better musician & songwriter by listening closely to my compositions and rambles that can become songs and stories if they first find a sympathetic ear like his.
Once, during a visit to his place in Conway, he took me to a park in Myrtle Beach, SC, where we played guitar together. Another night he took me to a coffee house/bookstore, where we both performed. Other days he drove out into the countryside west of Conway, to special places he'd found...these trips will remain in my memory as long as I live. My positive impressions of this gifted human being are way too numerous to list in a few words...suffice it to say I loved the man's heart and soul, and I trust many who were fortunate enough to know him did too. My life is richer in ways nobody can enumerate because of Dale Alan Collins...I have numerous fotos of him I snapped during a few visits to Conway, SC since 1995, and if anyone wants to receive jpgs of them, please email me at the address provided.
You'll receive a reply from Jesse Slokum, which is my acting and performing name...
May Dale be Blessed of Memory
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Tammy Hawkins
September 16, 2008
I had the blessing of meeting Dale when he and Joyce met up to go to the party for Norm and Sylvia. At first glance, he reminded me of a nutty professor mixed with Mr. Magoo and I shared this with Joyce and Rebecca. As I journeyed with Joyce to Conway, the outpour from the Conway/Coastal community was simply amazing. I learned that this professor was brilliant beyond comprehension, giving beyond compare, and awesome beyond belief. That was only the surface of who Dale truely was. I am grateful that I got to meet him and saddened that I will not get to know him. Please accept my sympathy. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Travis Porco
September 15, 2008
I'm sorry beyond words about this.
Kai Williams
September 15, 2008
Dr. Collins was the greatest professor a student could ask for. He was such an inspiration. I was always excited to spend time in or out of class with Dr. Collins. He was the funniest guy I have ever met and his kindness was contagious. I will miss him. "Scrabblllleeee"
Lindy Morde
September 15, 2008
I am so very sorry to hear that Dr. Collins has passed away. I can't even begin to express in words how sad it makes me feel. He was such a wonderful person, who never failed to put a smile on my face.
Daylis Gore
September 15, 2008
Mr. and Mrs. Collins and family, I am so sorry that Dr. Collins went so early in his life. He is going to be missed, but he is going to be in a better place. Dr. Collins was my mentor and one of the best professor I have ever known. I loved attending his Spanish classes. I stayed late to talk with him and laughed all through the class from his jokes. He was the most gentel and coolest professor I knew.He inspirated and helped me become a Spanish teacher. Thank God for putting Dr. Collins in my path.
Daylis Gore (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Contact me
Brian Bari
September 14, 2008
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Sara Martin
September 14, 2008
Dr. Collins was the best teacher I have ever had. I uses to always get excited over attending my spanish class. I would always state late to talk with him and laugh all throughout the class from his jokes. This was the coolest guy I knew and definitaly an inspiration. He WAS the most giving guy I new and had the most LIFE in him I ever seen. I remember him talking about his girlfriend and him climbing on top and crawling under his desk giving ideas and that was so cool that he would go to such extend to help us learn.. I miss you Dr. Collins.
Denna (Atkins) Hornby
September 11, 2008
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Collins,
My heart was broken at the news of my old friend's passing. I dare say I don't remember a day of school without Dale. We had many classes together and I have fond memories of him. It is wonderful to read the guest book entries from many of his students, since I remember the old days of conjugating verbs with him when we were but teenagers in Mr. Collins' Spanish class. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Lisa Starbuck
September 11, 2008
Sonja and Family,
So sorry for your loss. May you find peace and comfort in the days ahead.
Carol Shoaf
September 10, 2008
Uncle Norman and Aunt Jo
I am so sorry for your loss. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers I can only remember Dale from our younger days, may the joy that he brought to you always bring you peace in your darkest time. How wonderful to know how many people he touched on his journey here. He is now with the rest of the family that went before him. May God give you comfort in this time of sorrow.
I love you Carol Sue Collins Shoaf
Linda
September 10, 2008
Dr. Collins was my professor at Coastal Carolina. I always enjoyed going to his class...he was always in a good mood and made his students that way by the end of his class. You could tell he truly cared about us. We will definitely miss him.
September 9, 2008
Mr. and Mrs. Collins and family,
I am honored to have been one of Dale's friends. His kind heart touched all his colleagues and students at Coastal. Please accept my condolences for the loss of your son and family member. Dale was an outstanding individual and I shall miss him.
Glenda Sweet, Professor Emerita
Coastal Carolina University
Anne-Marie D'Onofrio
September 9, 2008
I had the incredible pleasure of being a student of Dr. Collins. Not a class period went by without a joke, a laugh, a life-loving grin. Dr. Collins eased the worry out of 300-level Spanish classes; his knowledge about the language and culture were incredibly impressive and he shared every bit of it that he could. There were nothing but encouraging words from Dr. Collins during our conversations, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn from him. I know his passing must be an incredibly hard loss for so many people...
Karla Reyna
September 9, 2008
Earth lost an Angel, but Dale went home before us, we'll always love you, specially me.
Francie Criner
September 9, 2008
My prayers are with you.
Jeremiah Drew
September 9, 2008
Dale Collins was my professor at Coastal Carolina. He was one of the greatest people i have ever met. He was the friend of a lifetime and i just wish his family the best. He has touched my heart and life forever.
Steve and Nikki Kocot
September 9, 2008
We were so sorry to hear of the sudden passing of Dr. Collins. I enjoyed his class so much. Dr. Collins made you feel like a friend as well as a student. He always made class interesting and had such a great sense of humor. Dr. Collins was such a nice man and I will never forget him.
Penny Bell
September 9, 2008
Dr. Collins was such a nice man. I was so worried about having to endure three semesters of Spanish. I am so glad that I took all three of them with Dr. Collins. He always brought a smile and humor to my class everyday. He talked about Carla and his neices a lot and it made you feel like you knew them. He probably never realized the impact he played on so many peoples' lives. I know he did mine. Dr. Collins, thanks for being such a good man and an example to us all- to be kind to everyone, everyday and to love unconditionally.
Rhonda (Fox) Monday
September 9, 2008
I am very sorry to hear of Dale passing. I graduated from high school with Dale. Although I haven't seen in him in many years, I will always remember our school days. He was such a nice guy and I was so amazed at how intelligent he was. It was no suprise to hear how kind hearted Dale would grow up to be. Dale always was kind to people around him and always willing to help. Mr and Mrs Collins I am very sorry for you loss. You are all in my prayers!!
Jennifer Shinaberger
September 9, 2008
My condolences to Dale's family. When I first came to Coastal, I taught a few sections of Spanish for the Foreign Language department. Dale was my unofficial mentor in the department. I sat in on Dale's conversation and composition classes, and I always enjoyed his creative and wonderful sense of humor. I will always remember how he helped me when I first arrived at the university. That was Dale, always putting others before himself. He had a very kind heart and genuine personality.
Bonnie Neal
September 9, 2008
Dear Dale, a wonderful, kind person. I feel blessed to know you and I will never forget you. My sincere condolences to your family and your friends. I was terribly saddened when I got the news about you,but know you're in a much better place. Vaya con Dios.
Daryl Kangarloo
September 9, 2008
Dale volunteered here at Catholic Charities Hispanic Outreach Center. He was kind and compassionate to all who entered the Center for help. He assisted us in translating our brochures into Spanish. He was a wonderful loving man. He will be missed.
Neal Causey
September 9, 2008
Dale, you were such a kind, pleasant person. You were always fun and approached life with a light-heartedness that I wish others (including myself) could. You had a deep love of the world, of music, and of rural South Carolina that I identify with so well. You'll be missed.
Ashley
September 8, 2008
I was recently one of Professor Collins' spanish students this past summer at CCU and will truly miss him. Professor Collins displayed a passion for teaching and helping others as well as a personability that all should mirror. I will never forget his enthusiasm and love for the little things in life...the things that really matter. His reference to friends, family, and Carla incorporated in his lessons made me feel as though I knew each and every one of you. There is no doubt that over the years he has touched more lives than he would have ever known...mine being one. My thoughts and prayers are with Professor Collins' friends and family as he will truly be missed here on earth but welcomed in heaven.
Donna (Munsey) Ford
September 8, 2008
I went to Gibbs High School with Dale. He was a very nice person and so smart. It doesn't surprise me at all that he made an impact in the lives of so many. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Mike Gilbert
September 8, 2008
Dale,
I had the rare honor tonight of adding you posthumously as a Face-
book friend, at your request: "Hola, Miguel, so what the hell is life all about?" you wrote me just last week (!). I rather suspect you had a better handle on that than many, dear Collins; if, as your obit says, you were sometimes taken advantage of by those whom you sought to help, you were far more frequently underestimated by those with whom you worked. Few among us can hold a candle to your ability to talk in an informed and incisive way about everything from dadaism to Strom Thurmond to Nietzsche to German verbs to Latin American poetry. But that's to belabor the intellectual in you; you're at your best when talkin' the earth beneath your feet. I can only hope you've written some of that accumulated wisdom down to pass on to those of us left behind? That earth beneath our feet, in all its wonder and sorrow (oh, the sorrow) is how we became friends--unlikely as that was, me with my high-falutent Yankee aristocratic family steeped generations deep in Ivy League pedigree, you from small-town, rural Tennessee; after all, I was raised to think guys like you talked funny (in truth I envied your homegrown rootedness; the roots I have are largely manufactured). But together we braved the new world of Horry County and CCU, and, oh, the discoveries we made!!!
I'm struck again tonight by how we find out who our real friends in life are; in my case, it took that episode with cancer and moving on to a new job to figure some of that out. To be sure, I hear now and then from my closest working colleagues from years past. But it's the crew I hear from more regularly: like that honors student I taught decades ago who's now discovering that the hardest tests in life are neither outlined nor announced; the lost fellow who stumbled through 3 years at Coastal only to realize he wanted all along to fix cars (I told him so!); my former orchestra manager who' s moving on, at last, to a new life himself; and, of course, you, going back 15 years this fall: those lingering voices are a measure of our larger and truer selves. Only now, your presence among them is but a memory, albeit a powerful one and a rich blessing to us all. Lux aeterna, Dale.
Richard Collin
September 8, 2008
Poor, Dear Dale - I had an email from him at the beginning of last week. We shared similar tastes in politics. We will all miss his gentle humour. Richard Collin
Kristi Steinbrecher
September 8, 2008
Our loss is heaven's gain. Dale was a wonderful person and the world is a better place because of him. I hope his family is comforted by the fact that he meant so much to so many.
Patrick Herrmann
September 8, 2008
Dale,
We have had so many laughs together. That is how I want to remember you. You were a great friend and an amazing professor. I will never forget the laughs that we shared in barnes and noble and around campus. You will always be remembered. Adios Amigo.
Patrick Herrmann
Chelsea
September 8, 2008
Professor Collins smile and laugh will be greatly missed on campus. He was an amazing teacher and a wonderful person. My heart goes out to his family.
Nelljean Rice
September 8, 2008
There are big holes in many hearts, and especially in mine. The Collins family is in my thoughts and prayers. I will miss Dale so very much.
Nelljean Rice
Christine Giguere
September 8, 2008
I was in one of Dale's spanish classes this semester and I loved his class. Even though the semester has just begun, he was so inviting, happy, and funny he made me look forward to his class. He always found a way to make the class laugh and I was so happy to be in his class. He will be missed and I send all of my deepest condolences to his family, co-workers, and friends.
Linda Hollandsworth
September 8, 2008
To the Family of Dale:
We are all saddened to learn of Dale's death. He was a happy and very gentle soul. I would often chat with Dale (in my broken Spanish), and he would kindly help me with incorrect phrasing that I'd used. He and I talked often about Morelia, a city that he loved. We will miss him.
Carol Rogers
September 8, 2008
So sorry to hear about Dale. We graduated together at Gibbs in 1983. He was such a smart guy, I will never forget that! May God provide comfort to your family.
Stephanie Little
September 8, 2008
Professor Collins was my Spanish professor for two semesters at Coastal. Not only did I respect him as a professor, but I got to know him as a friend. The campus of Coastal will definitely miss Prof. Collins' warm and sincere smile. May he rest in peace.
Roger and Rosemary Jones
September 7, 2008
Our hearts go out to you at this time and in the days ahead.
Norma Jones
September 7, 2008
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Michael Hicks
September 7, 2008
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugh, Diana and Brandon Glenn
September 7, 2008
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Kenny, Angie, & Kenley Weaver
September 7, 2008
Uncle Norman, Aunt Jo, & family,
There are no words to express our deep sadness for your loss. Our prayer for each of you, during this time is for the comfort that only God can grant. We also pray that all the wonderful memories and smiles left to us by Dale will also help to bring comfort. His kind and caring spirit will always be apart of each life he touched. We love each of you.
Kenny, Angie, & Kenley Weaver
Bessie J. Young
September 7, 2008
We are sorry for your loss.Dale went to school @ corryton,Tn.with our son/brother,the late Jerry Dale Young.They played ball together!We will keep your family in our thoughts & prayers,Bessie Jane (Dyer,aka Dolly)Young. & Family In memory of,Dale & his Dad,Jerry Young.
Tandy Warwick
September 7, 2008
My Dear little brother, I miss you so. I'll always remember the great times we shared and laughed our way through. I'll always remember the day you were born and when Norman and Jo brought you home. We had a new little baby to love, and we were Blessed to watch you grow. I'll always remember the time we were swimming in Mexico, and you decided to walk into the water on your own! I scooped you up right there and then never let you out of my sight! Then as we all grew older and went our separate ways, I'd always remember the many nights and days spent with you and the family. Each time I see the "Mr. Bill" character, I think of the time you made us one from styrofoam! Any thought of you brings a smile to my face. I'll always remember you that way and the many treasures I have stored in my heart. Thank you little brother for the many wonderful and endearing memories you've left. I'll see you some day, Dale, and til then, I'll smile each day just for you! I love you, Dale...Hasta Luego!
Norman, Jo, Stuart, Joyce, Joel, Sherrie and family: I know all of you are so heartbroken, and my prayers and thoughts are with you during this sad and very difficult time. All of you are my family, too, and I'm so Blessed to be a part of all of you. I'm going to look at the stars each night, knowing I'll see Dale up there shining bright. He'll always be with us!
May God bring you comfort and peace during these difficult days ahead. God Bless each of you.
Napoleon & Ann Leal
September 6, 2008
Dale I am glad to have finally sat down and talked to you for a while at the Collins Reunion. For the last couple of years we have made every effort to attend them so that we could all eat and meet each other. We will miss you at the next one and we will all think about you. May God Bless you and we will see you in heaven. Que Dios te bendiga Primo.
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