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Prof. Martin Kieffer receives "Teacher Recognition Award" posthumouslyRecently, the LFNY sent a survey to its alumni, asking them to nominate their favorite teacher and last night (February 6, 2004), a few hours before we published this newsletter, the results were announced at the Lycee’s “2004 Gala Dinner.” Chris Kende (’66) gave the acceptance speech, which we are proud to present to you here. We know how beloved and respected a teacher M. Kieffer was, and we are sure that Chris’ words reflect the entire alumni community’s feelings. (When you are finished reading the speech, please click on the two “related links” to the right, for more recent photos of M. Kieffer, as well as a letter that he sent to us in 1998, shortly before he passed away.) P.S. Shortly after we published this newsletter, Diana Henry ('66) also wrote a touching piece, which is printed after Chris'. I am greatly honored and deeply touched to accept the Teacher Recognition Award for M. Martin Kieffer. It is an even greater honor to be invited to say a few words about him in this Company. There are many more than “a few words” which could be used to describe Martin: Dedicated, enthusiastic, committed, vital, caring, energetic, inspirational, all come to mind. Martin was a “teacher’s teacher”, beloved by his students and totally committed to learning. I had Martin in history and geography from about 6eme to Terminale. I never tired of his energy and bravado in class. He would insist that we speak loudly, with confidence and self assuredness. He expected great things of his students and always brought out the best in all of us, even the timid ones! He was tireless and very much ahead of his time, years before physical fitness became a buzz-word. One student wrote in a letter to him several years ago “Je pense a vous comme du ‘premier jogger’ de New York et le premier ‘health nut.’’’ Woe to the students on Faculty-Student soccer day!! When he passed away in his very simple surroundings in Colmar, a great loss was felt among all alumni and friends who knew him. I recall speaking at his memorial at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church and feeling the overwhelming sense that a great light in the world of teaching had gone out. This Honor is more than deserved. It has been earned through a lifetime of inspiring and challenging young minds. When he was ill in his last days, a letter writing campaign was organized by several alumni who knew him. One quote, kindly provided to me by Roger Liwer, summed it all up: “Whenever I talk to my Lycee friends about our school experience, there is general agreement that you were special. You seem to have inspired the most love of any of our teachers, without exaggeration… you were absolutely fascinating in class. I hope you can feel some pride in what you did for me and others like me” Martin, I know you are listening and smiling, thinking to yourself: “This is very nice but now I have to go for a run.” Thank you Board of Trustees and Alumni for honoring the lifetime achievement of a great teacher, scholar, friend and extraordinary human being. Christopher Kende February 6, 2004 ***************************************************************************** Regarding Martin Kieffer, I remember him jumping on his desk and enacting the French Revolution of 1870: "To the barricades!" Unforgettable. I also remember him saying that if anyone just perused an atlas for 15 minutes a day, they would be a cultured person. How true. After I became a teacher ( at the Lycee) I tried to follow his example and write lengthy, carefully composed and reasoned assessments of various passages in my students' essays. I couldn't believe, once I tried doing it, how generous he had been with his time to do this for us for so many years. I went to France one year toward the end of his life and couldn't make it to Colmar. He, however, took the train to Besançon to meet me and my daughter who was four at the time. He was amazed that I was letting her travel in her 'jammies. But he was always so kind, so his disapproval was veiled in concern. I know he visited his anciens in the US after he retired, he spoke fondly of them to me, and after he was no longer able to travel, I am happy to hear that many kept up with him to the end. Diana Henry (’66) |
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