Rolf Westphal

In 1972 and 1973, I met Rolf while interviewing him for the university's student newspaper, The Clarion Call. He revealed himself not only as an interesting person, but someone whom I thought would prove to be an amazing new member of the small academic and local culture. We dated for a time. He taught me to drive his truck and then proceeded to lessons on art, life, culture, and the great process of living fully. I was an attendant at his wedding to Susan Morgan, one of my apartment room-mates. We remained friends for years but lost touch as we both cartwheeled through our lives and careers. Then somehow we connected in 2004, met up, and continued a conversation that was still going on through January, just before he passed. At that time I was moving from Alaska to Pennsylvania. I was just preparing to call him this month, July 2016, when I discovered a letter in my mailbox announcing his too-soon departure. Our last meeting was in St. Augustine in 2014 where we sat up all day and through the night talking. I am left with the remembrance that I could listen to him forever and look forward to that miracle taking place.