James (Dick) Richard Kirkpatrick

I worked in the MCC Library for many years and knew Dick when we shared lounges with the English Dept. before they had their building. We all enjoyed his stories and words of wisdom with our coffee.

My son took Dick's English 101 class and when I told him of Dick's death, he said, "I feel very thankful to have known him and learn from him."

In 1966 Mr Kirkpatrick, whom I really admired and respected pulled me aside my senior year. He said Roy, you are not going to graduate with signed diploma. He told me I was failing his class. There was 6 weeks before graduation. He said if I did some extra credit,he would work with me. He told me he had a list of 12 books he would give me and I could read 6. One book a week. He would quiz me each week. I did read one book a week for 6 weeks and did pass his exams. Mr Kirkpatrick gave me a second chance. What grace he showed me. I didn't do well in his class but I looked forward to going to his class. He was a great person. My diploma was signed because of Mr Kirkpatrick. I have many fond memories of Tempe High Mr Kirkpatrick is one of them. God bless Mr Kirkpatrick and his family. Roy Anglin

In the fall semester of 1974, after my recent discharge from four years of service in the United States Air Force, I started classes at Mesa Community College. My first English class was American Literature with Dick Kirkpatrick; I was completely out of control in class, asking questions non-stop, answering Dick's questions, fully engaged in all the class discussions which were lively and stimulating. One day, about halfway through the semester, Dick told me to shut up (this is the clean version!) and let somebody else answer a question and after class I told him I had been out of school for five years and was just so damned grateful to be in his class. What followed was an afternoon at the Village Inn across the street from MCC, and several pitchers of beer and the start of a friendship of more than five decades. It is not hyperbole to say that Dick changed my life by encouraging my studies, by always answering the phone, by always making suggestions about books to read, and about sharing his thoughts and keeping me in his life. And by introducing me to Ed Abbey and Pam Houston and Chuck Bowden and Lawrence Thornton--but more importantly, by just being Dick Kirkpatrick. He finished every phone call with, "Love ya', Jos." I know he did and I loved him back.

Thank you Dick for our two sons. Thank you for the White Mountains. Thank you for sharing your family.
Thanks.
Rest in peace.
Ellie

You were Mr. Kirkpatrick to all of us in your Junior English class at Tempe High School. Thanks for taking time with us as young adolescent teenagers and making English fun and worth learning in high school. I was so looking forward to seeing and visiting with you at our "Class of 1965" Reunion coming up this Fall and sharing stories of our teaching careers at Tempe High, home of the Buffaloes!

Nice to know you had fun, from an English teacher too.

Evaline Auerbach