Loading ...Oberlin Rocks presents Fuzzy
Suzy Vance writes “My father, Elbridge (Fuzzy) Vance, long-time professor in the Oberlin College mathematics department, died February 17, 2007. A Memorial was held for him in May 2007 in Oberlin. My brothers and sister and I really don’t know who painted the rock – maybe someone who knew him who knew we were having a memorial for him that weekend. Anyway – we don’t know who did it and we don’t know what “The Other White Meat” means… and who knows, maybe Fuzzy doesn’t even refer to our dad (that WAS what people have called him since college). People in the photo: Trip Beynon, Doug Vance on the left – me, my sister Emily Beynon and Kathy Vance (Doug’s wife) on the right. Missing are Peter (my brother) and Ellie (his wife).” Thanks for the story and photo, Suzy. Can anyone tell us for sure if the rock was a memorial to Fuzzy Vance?
Category: Class of 1898 monument, Memorials | Tags: graffiti, memorial, Oberlin, Oberlin College, Oberlin Rocks, painted rocks, public art, rock paintings, Tappan Square One comment »
January 29th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Dear Suzy,
I just came across your post and it was the first I heard of your father’s death, which happened to fall on my 60th birthday. I am sorry I missed the memorial.
I know nothing about the rock painting, but I remember your father very well. I was a math major at Oberlin in 1965-68 and went on to become a math professor and even a department chair.
I never took a course from him, but at one point he was a huge help to me in some delicate negotiations having to do with the draft. He even apologized, on behalf of his generation, for the mess that the Vietnam War had created for people like me. He was the only person I ever heard do that.
He was a great guy.
Doug Ravenel ’69