Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Dear Dottie, Peter and Mark:
Paul was Assoc. Dean for Research when I was a young assistant professor in Smeal in the early 1980s. Women professors were rare at Smeal as well as in other business schools and not always fully accepted. I am delighted to share that Paul was always welcoming, served as an ally for me and contributed greatly to my feeling accepted and valued at Smeal. He not only offered valuable professional advice, but he also served as a champion for me as I made my way through the hurdles of tenure and promotion and on to become the Director of the Center for Research in Conflict and Negotiation in Smeal. I will be forever grateful to him. When I read about his humble beginning in Arizona, it all made good sense to me. Although I haven't seen Paul for several years, whenever I reflect on my 34 years at Smeal, I always remember his gentle and unwavering support. In closing, I would like to share this short poem with you written by Thich Nhat Hahn, a Vietnamese Buddhist teacher.
No coming, no going,
No after, no before.
I hold you close,
I release you to be free;
I am in you
And you are in me.
May your memories of Paul (and also hearing those of others like mine) sustain you at this difficult time.
Blessings,
Barbara Gray
