As a student of the graphic design program at ODU (not an art school), I like to think we were fairly close knit for the simple fact that we own a mindset of trying to prove that we didn’t have to go to VCU (an art school) to be great graphic designers. I could be wrong in making that generalization, but those are my personal feelings, however one thing you find out quickly in the graphic design program at Old Dominion is to leave your personal feelings at the door.

The moment I reach into my memory cache of Robert, the first thought I have is, “Grizzly Bear”. I think I was scared at first. Past students telling tales of embarrassment in front of their peers at the hands of Robert. I remember seeing this rough guy wearing a blaze orange zip-up hoody and jeans, looked like he just walked out of the woods, probably just finished drinking an entire pot of scalding hot coffee…proibably right out of the pot. He was brutal, and you better nevert pull that line, ‘My tuition pays your salary..blah, blah, blah’ not on him, not in his class.

Another memory is when I printed an 8.5″ x 11″ assignment on the large format printer because I thought the glossy paper would earn me a better grade. I came back to find the final print-out pinned to the wall in the graphic design studio with Shartpie scribbled over the entire print and the message, “DO NOT USE FOR 8 1/2 X 11!!!”. Well, at least I didn’t have to confront him face to face…but wait, I stepped outside the studio only to run into Robert in the hallway, he yelled something to me that to this day I’m not sure what he said, I responded with something, or just ducked my head and ran for cover, but either way, I survived crossing Robert and I felt okay for now.

The longer I was in the graphic design program, I gained more respect for Robert. I saw that he was rigid for a reason, and I was able to have conversations with him and then I found out that he wasn’t rigid at all, that he was a funny guy and would talk to me any time and that he actually smiles. And later I found it funny when he chewed some new freshman out for not spray-mounting their assignment completely to the black matte board, or didn’t measure the exact amount from each side, precision isn’t that hard to accomplish is it? I had respect for Robert, I appreciated what he did for me, and I appreciate what he did for others. There are a lot of people who don’t know what he did for them, never will, so thanks for them…

I couldn’t make it back in time for the memorial service, so I thought I would at least stop by and pay my respects in my own way.

The halls were empty.
The push pin boards were empty.
His name was still on the old directory…The letters didn’t know he was gone.

I wonder if he cared that it wasn’t kerned properly. If it was on the wall in his classroom, then yes. But probably not on this stupid sign.

But I hope his name stays there, and someone can tell a story when a new student asks who he is, maybe they’ll say he was a grizzly bear, or maybe they’ll say he was a teddy bear with a hard exterior coating. Either way, thanks for making me a better graphic designer.