Friday, April 15, 2016
I knew Clem during the years 1969-1983 (in Nashville), initially as one of his grad students, later as a colleague, but almost immediately, and throughout the following decade, as a friend. Unfortunately, I didn't make enough effort to stay in touch after my family and I moved from Nashville to California in a career change, and I very much regret that. I identify with, and agree with, all the nice things I read about Clem in the eulogy published on this website and in the various tributes other folks have sent in (and I too remember how Clem liked to say of a confused adversary that he'd been"hoisted on his own petard"!).
I'm writing this because recently, while sorting through a bunch of old photos, I happened to run across an almost-forgotten favorite of mine -- a charming image of Clem, playing along with my 2-year-old daughter Erica and giving Erica's 'baby' a sip of water. I knew Clem would enjoy seeing this even if he had seen it soon after I took the picture 40 years ago -- and I went into Google to see if I could find his current mailing address so I could send the print to him; instead, of course, I found out that Clem had left us in November, and I was months too late (not to say years too late) to reconnect in this manner. Like everyone else who knew Clem, I'm very sad to know that he's gone, and my heart goes out to his family. If I had it to do over again, I'd certainly do a much better job of staying in touch with this gem of a person.
