In loving memory

Hayward Alker was my mentor. He had a sparkle in his eyes. He was always excited about new ideas. At the ISA he would run from one panel to the next to hear a new paper that he thought sounded “so interesting!” You could not stop him if you tried. So many years into being a scholar and still loved it as it was his first.

He was a dedicated man and would always find time in his very busy schedule to meet with you, his graduate students. I was his Thursday 4.00 o’clock appointment. He would meet me every week for at least two hours to discuss my, or better, our project. He would seat quietly on his chair with his eyes closed listening at what I had to say and all of the sudden unexpectedly jump from the chair, his eyes sparkling again. He would verbally inundate you with his excitement and his suggestions on what you should do and what you should read. And you would walk out of his office with a thousand new ideas and a pile of “fascinating” books to read. As he was done with you his mind was already miles away on to only God knows what. He was constantly working on the next project.

He was not only a brilliant mentor he was also a fatherly figure. When you had your doubts and insecurities he would listen. And as you struggled to bear with your at times overwhelming project, he was the one to ask you “what’s wrong? Aren’t you excited of what you have accomplished so far?” He was always reassuring.

I am still working on our project, Hayward. I have your comments, your capital letter comments that speak just like you and will keep guiding me in this project and the next, and the next. You are and will be with me. You taught me to be a serious scholar to be scrupulous and to be generous. The only way I can think of thanking you for all you did for me is to be a good scholar just as you wanted me to be. You believed in me and invested in me. I won’t let you down.

Thank you, Hayward.

Serena Simoni