Johannes Wich-Schwarz

I had the privilege of having Dr. Johannes Wich-Schwarz as my instructor for three classes at Maryville University. During the first class, we quickly bonded over our love of Gothic Literature and anything pertaining to feminism. I absolutely loved talking with him during office hours, as he was so kind, funny, and compassionate, and he genuinely made me feel that what I had to say was valuable. After I graduated, I was lucky enough to briefly stay in touch via email with Johannes and continue our conversations. I am so grateful to have known him for the short time I did, and he will always hold a special place in my heart.

Dr. Johannes Wich-Schwarz was my professor at Maryville for two of my classes. He made my college experience better than any professor could have. His philosophy class really spoke to me and our conversations felt real. He was the reason why I loved Maryville so much and I cannot thank him enough.

I was a student on Johannes´ Mental Illness in Literature honors course at Maryville University and it was EASILY one of the highlights of my Maryville education. My heart goes out to his loved ones.

I met Johannes during his Boston years. We were in the same department at Boston University. Over the years, we had countless conversations about poets and philosophers (esp. Wittgenstein) and, sometimes, very silly things.

Johannes´s capacity for empathetic listening was unrivaled and instructive. When I think of the genuine love of learning, hermeneutics, and the value of precision in language for grasping what is meaningful, I will, one way or another, be thinking of our many conversations. I´m so grateful to have known him.

Johannes was one of the oldest and most trusted friends from my student´s days. Although we lost sight of each other for more than twenty-five years, I found his personality nearly unchanged when I got in touch with him again a few weeks before his death, when he was already marked by his fatal illness. In spite of this immensely long break, we still shared so many happy memories and felt close to each other that I am heartbroken to find him again so late and in such a desperate situation. I honour and admire him for the courage with which he accepted and endured his illness without losing his usual empathy and serenity, and I will miss his fine wisdom, his detached humour and his inalterable humanity. He will always have a special place in my heart and in my memory.