Friday, October 27, 2006

Called Home: Tribute to Former College Professor


Last week I learned that one of my former college professors went to be with the Lord. Nancy Wall, associate professor of modern language (French and German) at the University of Mobile, died on Saturday, Oct. 14 after a brief illness.

“Succeeding generations of students moving through the halls of, first, Mobile College, and then the University of Mobile, have since 1969 been under the teaching of Nancy Wall,” said UM President Dr. Mark Foley. “She was teaching until only a few days before her death, and even in the hospital as her illness became more pronounced, she was concerned about arranging her classes. The kind of dedication and influence which Nancy demonstrated to her students and colleagues is a very precious thing, and she will be greatly missed.”

Frau Wall (to those who took her for German) had been teaching full time at the University of Mobile, formerly Mobile College, for nearly 37 years, and continued teaching until Thursday, Oct. 5. While at UM, she was instrumental in the formation of the Modern Language Club, now the International Club, and in increasing student enrollment in foreign language classes. She made frequent trips to Germany and France, and helped plan several international trips with the UM choir.

She will be greatly missed my those she taught through the years! It was Frau Wall renewed my love for the German language while at the University of Mobile. As a young child, I learned German since I lived on a military base in Germany due to the fact that my dad was in the military. I loved the both the country and the language but had forgotten much of what I loved about the language until Frau Wall rekindle the fire.

Frau Wall, auf wiedersehen!

2 comments:

Joe Tolin said...

UM has big shoes to fill. It was her class that Dani and I fell in love. So we will always have fond memories for Frau Wall. She was a wonderful lady.

Jason Dale Crowder said...

Joe,

You are correct in that UM has big shoes to fill. Yes, we will have fond memories for Frau Wall. German class was an enjoyable experience for us.