Some people
just have Sparkle. Bill Loftus had
sparkle. His students this week were
shocked and saddened to hear of his passing.
I visited an impromptu memorial at his office door today and was moved
as I viewed the hallway filled with warm memories and small tokens of
appreciation. His good friend and fellow
professor Toufic Saad
recalled to me the support and love Dr. Bill showed him during their years
together at Big Sandy. Toufic said, “He walked by my
classroom daily and before he walked to the end of the hallway to enter his
classroom, he walked in mine and ask for his ‘Man Hug’. So we hugged often. I
am a two-time cancer survivor and he was always there for me, for moral
support, uplifting messages and texts, and mostly "Man Hugs". I am going to miss those the most.”
Colleagues and students speak often and
vigorously about Dr. Bill’s passions in life.
He loved his family, his wife Teresa and his son Balin, more than life
itself. He often spoke of his devotion
to his family during class, and students remember the proud look in his eye
when he spoke of his son. He loved his
students and he loved helping them to reach their full potential and to see the
true wonder of life. The students who
have gathered at his doorway have left messages of hope, and admiration for their
professor and friend. Nathan remarks,
"You were a true inspiration" and Amber writes, "Thanks for
being one of the coolest dudes I've met." Tavis speaks of Dr. Bill’s sense of wry humor
and wit and his wicked laughter. He
fondly remembers the class as a happy little circle that was “the house of
love”. As his classroom would fill with his
students and friends, he would shut the door and cheerfully exclaim, “Good
morning, ladies and gentlemen!”
He was a humanitarian who gave freely to others.
One of Dr. Bill’s causes was “The Green Dot Initiative”. This initiative strives to raise awareness
that society can reduce violence in our community and on our school
campuses. Dr. Bill was instrumental in
bringing the initiative to Big Sandy.
A rich full life is attained by living fully and
freely. Bill Loftus did just this. He loved his family and his students. He loved a great joke, a good game of golf
and an ice cold beer. He loved cool
jazz and warm Hersey Kisses. He dreamed
of traveling to Ireland one day. Dr.
Bill was expressive, quirky, funny and deep, everything we should inspire our
children to be.
As I said before, Dr. Bill had Sparkle. He especially had the paper towel kind of
Sparkle. Dr. Bill, just like many of
us, hated hand dryers in restrooms. A
few years back, hand dryers were installed in the bathrooms. He hated them. He and his students waged a war against the
dryers until finally paper towel dispensers were back living happily in the
campus bathrooms.
As with everything, life continues. I believe that Dr. Bill would want his
friends and students to strive to live life to the fullest.
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