Posts

Showing posts from May, 2015

A Tribute to Edward F Callahan, PhD

Image
It was thirty-four years ago when I walked into his classroom, and although I have only a scattered recollection of the works we studied, I will never forget Dr. Edward F Callahan, Professor of English at the College of the Holy Cross for over thirty years. He was a short, stocky man with a squarish head and thick-rimmed glasses, with a predilection for button-down shirts and cardigan sweaters. Nothing memorable there. But his lack of being memorable ended there, as soon as the door closed and he began consulting the list of students who had signed up for his class.  "Herr Hogenkampf?" He pronounced my name with a distinct Bavarian lilt. I nodded. He lowered his glasses and peered at me. "What kind of name is that?" "It's Dutch." He scratched his forehead. "Sounds German to me." I shrugged.  Ed left his glasses low on his nose and looked around the room, filled mostly with female students I didn't know,