Last Saturday Dr. Richard Page, a faculty of the Department of Psychology, Wright State University, passed a way. On this Wednesday a memorial service for him was held in a room in WSU campus, and I attended.
Actually I have never met him. When I arrived to Dayton last March, he was already in the hospital. Although there have been a number of announces from department office about his recent news and that he was glad to have visitors to his hospital, I thought he might hate to see a stranger in his bed and didn't go to see him. Only I knew about him is his face I saw in a photograph on the wall of the hallway in our department.
The service was really impressive. Dr. Page was said to have told his family that the ceremony should be the one "celebrating" his life, and it was. One of his sons was first to tell the people there about his daddy's memory. He told stories very vividly, making the audience laugh with a lot of jokes, one after another. And most of the other speakers told us their own joyful memories with, warm personality of, and significant influences among students and local community by Dr. Page. The service overall was very well done, lots of people attended, and I was very impressed by the personality of Dr. Page I found through every story told.
At the same time, I got the feeling of regret -- the regret that I have never seen him. I had pretty much opportunity to see him. But I didn't see the person with such an attractive personality. The opportunities to see somebody, do something, or find something new -- such opportunities are limited in numbers. The time while such opportunities are available is also limited -- I can see American people only while I'm in America. I can see people only while they are alive. Dr. Page taught me that it is stupid to miss such opportunity, thinking too much or too less.
In the booklet I got in the service, I found an invitation for contribution to Department of Psychology Scholarship Fund, in memory of Dr. page. I have never known that there is such a fund in our department. So I decided to make a small contribution to the fund. I think this is the opportunity Dr. Page gave me, and I don't want to miss it.
Now it's Christmas time.