| Susan Hawkins wrote on 26. Apr 2005 |
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Ron gifted me with his friendship for over 20 years.
He was my mentor and lived for me these truths:
Power has nothing to do with station in life.
Duality is not the truth, and truth is all around us.
He introduced me to New Dimensions Radio where cutting edge authors and philosophers are interviewed. It was there and through the book the Wu Li Masters that he introduced me to quantum mechanics. We had discussions that would have informed the movie, "What the Bleep".
Ron was a friend who recognized devotion, honor, and valor and who lived the principles of abundance, joy and increase.
Ron, I honor you and will miss you for all of time. |
| Ford Bell wrote on 13. Apr 2005 |
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I had the pleasure of taking 3rd year Latin from Ron, back in 1965. Then I had the additional pleasure of being his colleague in the Language Department at Blake, from 1970-1973. His enthusiasm for life, and his enthusiasm for the things that he loved most (languages, music, literature) were simply infectious. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was a kind and caring teacher in a school that was sometimes a little intimidating. I treasure the many memories I have of Ron, as I treasure his inscription (in Latin, of course!) in the Pequeño Larousse dictionary I was given when I left Blake.
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| Tom Skramstad wrote on 10. Apr 2005 |
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I remember very well when Ron joined the Blake community (circa 1958). He rode the bus to the corner of Blake Road and Excelsior Boulevard, all dressed in a dark suit, a bowler hat, and always sporting a cane (substitute umbrella if rain was imminent.) He walked with a unique gait, swinging the cane downward and then, alternately, upward at 90 degrees. Very different and very intellectual, I thought. I was his Latin student for one year I believe, and will always try to forget the damned Gauls and Helvetians and their "forced march."
He was the assistant wrestling Coach under Don Mezzenga when I was a wrestler. Seeing him diversify into an athletic endeavor was excellent, I thought, as he seemed to be not into athletics. However, when he took an interest in something, it could be a very deep interest; and he could become an "expert" in said subject, hence my use of the term "intellectual."
We always invited Ron to our Class of 1963 Blake Reunions and he always came. He had a lot of fun and told me often how much he appreciated being invited. He was at our house in the fall of 2003, which was the last time I saw him.
He loved music, and so do I. I am part of a bluegrass band and Rom invited us to play at his (former) house not far from Blake School. It was very fun, and Ron's enthusiasm for the music (and for everything) was terrific.
I will miss Ron and will always treasure his great positive attitude and enthusiasm.
Tom Skramstad |
| Ben Shank/Blake 67 wrote on 10. Apr 2005 |
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"Let's not muddy the waters with pedantic discussions. Let's have fun." Such was Ron's zesty approach to education at Blake. Yeah, he was a kidder in a school that took itself seriously.
With Don McCaulle (sp?), Ron jumpstarted my mouldering interest in language, which employs and elbows me to this day.
Thanks, Ron, for dancing with us on planet Earth in your healing, light-heeled ways.
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| Charles Baxter wrote on 09. Apr 2005 |
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Ron was, simply, one of the finest teachers I ever had, anywhere. I took two years of Latin from him at Blake, during which time he had the wit to assign Ovid's _Ars Amatoria_ to us, because he thought that high school boys might be interested in the techniques and opening lines for picking up girls at, say, chariot races. During class he was likely to digress to other subjects: Leonard Bernstein's piano playing (he didn't like it), or Rubens' nudes (excellent!).
Ron started the Blake School bookstore and thereby started my habit of buying and reading fiction, which probably started my habit of writing fiction, which persists to this day, thanks to him.
He was the most loyal of friends. When my books came out, he always let me know what he thought of them, and he read one of them aloud to a service for the blind. During the last year or so, he would call me up so we could meet for coffee in a favorite dive of his, a remodeled train station near downtown Hopkins. We talked about everything, from the political climate, the language of German, Richard Wagner (he loved the operas, I didn't), and always I thought his mind was capacious and generous and witty and open to everything. When he told me he had congestive heart failure, he said so matter-of-factly, even cheerfully. He taught me to the end. God bless him, a great soul. |
| Morgan Thomas wrote on 08. Apr 2005 |
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A question often asked at Blake School, usually by new students still wet behind the ears, was Why do we have to study Latin? The stock response: because it trains you in mental discipline and logic. That the dearth of evidence for such a rationale was visible at every hand and in generations of students who had gone before, was something you weren't supposed to notice.
I never heard Ron Replogle asked the question, but I'm sure he would have scoffed at such a cheesily utilitarian rationale. He taught Latin out of love, both for the language and for the teaching. He seemed to do everything out of love, appreciation, gourmandise -- whether coaching wrestling, ushering at Northrop Auditorium or plunging into Russian. He made little distinction of high or low. His awesome learning was never pedantic and his cherubic exterior masked a Rabelaisian sense of humor.
It takes years, alas, to recognize the rarity of such a spirit; to appreciate the appreciator. I recognize from these recent photographs that smile that always seemed to play about his lips, as if in secret knowledge that he had been born into this world to savor it and share his delectation. I know many are smiling at the memory of Ron today.
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| Michael Siskin / Blake wrote on 08. Apr 2005 |
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| Ron was my latin teacher in 7th and 8th grades. I was immature, and tried so hard to take advantage of Ron and his unconventional style. Most teachers were pretty tough at the time at Blake, by the book, and not afraid to get a little physical when needed with the boys. Ron's world was different. In latin class, we would sit on pillows, maybe work outside, and if I did not want to write a paper in Latin, Ron allowed me to write a history report in english on the Appian Way in ancient Rome. In the end, I was unable to take advantage of Ron. I learned more than just latin, and did so in a "right-brained", holistic, intuitive, creative manner. In fact, Ron hired me for a couple of summers to work at his house on numerous house projects, yard projects, etc. I got a chance to bring many friends with me to work there, and once again, learned a lot, had a fun time working outdoors, and Ron and I were both winners from the relationship. My best to the Replogle family. |
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