One of my college professors, Dr. Ardavan Davaran (or Ardy as most knew him), passed away this morning. Those of you who know me probably already know that college was not the easiest or happiest of times for me and that were it not for a few friends and a few excellent (and very patient) teachers I probably would not have gotten as far as I did.
My favorite memories of Dr. Davaran are not of his classes (because as a teacher he scared the living crap out of me) but of seeing him on campus and after the theater shows. It’s hard not to like a person who tells you that you are brilliant every time they see you and, if they get a hold of you, will pull you over to someone else and say “have you met this girl? She should teach my classes! She’s the smartest one in the room!” The beet redness of my blushing face and not so subtle attempt at yanking my arm out of his grip only encouraged him. “I’m serious! She’s amazing! You should talk to her and you’ll see! She’s brilliant!” And he was that way with everyone. Always a smile, always interested in whatever we were doing, and just a wee bit crazy. He forced us all to be accountable for ourselves and to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones which, when you are 19 is not so fun but when you’re 30 and looking back on it all is really cool.
Somewhere right now Dr. Davaran is at a cocktail party for literary geniuses. He’s probably gabbing Shakespeare’s ear off and when Anne Bradstreet wanders by he’ll snag her by the elbow and say “Bill! Have you met this woman? She’s wonderful! You have to talk to her! She’ll impress you out of your socks! You should take her out on a date!”
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I was his student, too. He and I were friends for 20 years and, yes, everything you said was so true about him. Glad to hear he touched others as much as he affected me. I’m a teacher because of him.
By One of Dr. Davaran's students on 01.29.09 4:54 am | Permalink
You couldn’t have said it any better. Amazingly, I never had him in class. Yet, he remembered not only me but where I was from and my mom – all this merely from a conversation on Orientation Day when we sat at his table for lunch.
What a class act! My daughter is looking at CND as a possible choice for college in a few years and I took for granted that she would get to meet him and this time, I would be the mom that he’d remember. Instead, I get to selfishly relish the fact that I had my time and place in his life and he had his in mine.
By Densie Clarke-Weidman on 01.29.09 9:49 am | Permalink
You got the cocktail party scenario exactly right. God bless Dr. Davaran.
By Lisa Marie Wong (a former NDNU student) on 01.29.09 12:39 pm | Permalink
Ardy was my teacher as well, but first and foremost my friend. He will be greatly missed.
By Claire on 01.29.09 1:40 pm | Permalink
Ardy was one of my favorite teachers at Notre Dame. He was an amazing teacher. Instead of lecturing he would kind of tell stories, and they would make you laugh and make you think, and they tended to be the kinds of things that would stay with you long after. Your description of him captures him so perfectly. Thanks so much for posting.
By Anna on 01.29.09 5:29 pm | Permalink
I am absolutely floored about this news. I have so many fantastic memories of Dr. D (as I always called him)–meeting at Ausiellos for a beer, or slam poetry at the Starry Plow in Berkeley. NDNU will not be the same without him.
By Dr. D's student on 01.29.09 9:07 pm | Permalink
You have described him perfectly, I almost could hear his voice when I read your description. He was not just my teacher but my mentor and a friend a great friend. Good bless his soul, he will be greatly missed.
By Francesco Crea (PhD) on 01.30.09 5:20 am | Permalink
What wonderful memories of a professor to carry with you. Surely he fulfilled the task a teacher sets for himself: to inspire.
By Laura on 01.30.09 2:25 pm | Permalink
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