I had the honor of working with Bryan Lopez in my Writing 101 class in Fall 2019. Bryan impressed me with the precision and clarity of his writing. His comments in class were always insightful, and his gentle bearing towards his classmates revealed a serene kindness. But I was particularly struck by his kindness and sensitivity as I got to know him outside of the classroom. I was lucky enough to have lunch and coffee with Bryan several times throughout the semester, where we talked soccer, music and the challenges of life in college. Speaking with Bryan, I had the sense that I was dealing with a tremendous intelligence. In March 2020, as pandemic life forced us to switch to online instruction, I ran into Bryan on one of my afternoon walks. Encountering Bryan’s shy smile in this tumultuous time gave me a great amount of peace. I’m shocked and saddened by the news of his passing. My condolences to his family and friends.
James Draney is a PhD candidate in the English department.
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