Wednesday, November 8, 2023
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I only just found out out that my dear Professor Thurston passed away this June. (New address, no school magazines.) My condolences to his family!
I arrived at Union at 17 years of age (1971), JUST back from a year as an exchange student in Japan, confused and (culturally) lost. (I had been accepted before going to Japan, with the intention of studying French and art, neither of which I studied at Union. [I did study Chinese though.]) Professor Thurston was my anchor and guiding angel for my entire four years, even though he wasn’t my official advisor. He even let me do art projects instead of papers twice, for classes where art projects were not the norm(!) — a small “Japanese garden” at my parents’ home, which he came to see and grade me on, and a four-plate Japanese woodblock print project, both of which were independent study projects. And when I wanted to spend more time in Japan, he helped me create my own multi-terms abroad program in Tokyo at ICU. (Union had no Japanese language classes, or Japanese programs abroad then.) And when I wanted to improve my Japanese, he helped me find way — I studied independently during the week, met a Japanese woman at Skidmore once a week (we had reciprocity with Skidmore, they had reciprocity with Cornell), and at the end of the semester, I met the professor from Cornell at Skidmore for my final (oral) exam. Professor Thurston was helpful beyond anything I can express in words, and was always there to talk with, and get advice from when I needed it.
I know he traveled the world, experienced many cultures, found true love, and lived a very full life — and may have been ready for a new adventure, but, he will be so missed on this earth! Thank you Professor Thurston (どもありがとう！), and Godspeed.
