Remembering Dr. Pusack

This page has been created as an opportunity to contribute and share your remembrances of Professor Jim Pusack, who died suddenly on December 30, 2008 of a heart attack. Information concerning the funeral, to be held Sat. Jan. 3, is available on Lensing’s website. (Thanks, Johnathan)

If you want to submit your remembrances of Prof. Pusack, click go to the first page.

Site of the Iowa City Shelter House

Messages 41-60 First | Previous | Next page | Last

• Mary O'Donnell
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 14:36:13
  
  Although I have been reading the messages left on this page for some days now, I still do not know what to say, as Jim's death seems unreal. How could anyone so full of life be gone in an instant? How can one come to terms with such a void? . . . such an inexplicable and profound loss?
  
  Honestly, everything that I write seems superficial and inadequate. My only prayer is that those touched by Jim feel bonded together at this time by our mutual love and respect for this great man.
  
  
• Richard M. DCamp
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 11:37:12
  
  "Wer im Bewusstsein seiner Lieben lebt, der
  ist nicht Tot, der ist nur fern.
  Tot ist der, der vergessen wird."
  --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  
  There is still so much that remains unaccomplished.  Sue, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
  
  Fondly,
  Rick DCamp - UI '95
  Oshkosh, WI
  
  
• Phillip Campana
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 11:35:26
  
  My deepest sympathy to Sue and to Jim's other close friends and relatives. I have followed Jim and Sue's work in CALL since at least the early 1980's, when I was working on laser videodisc technology. I have attended their sessions, read their work, learned a lot from them at a distance, and feel fortunate to have been acquainted with these two giants in the field.
  
  Phillip Campana, Tennessee Tech University
  
  
• Gus Leonard
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 11:05:13
  
  I first encountered Jim and Sue's work on Dasher at UMN. As a naive Minnesotan, I was astonished to learn that this tool could have come from Iowa! Later, I had the opportunity to meet the Otto/Pusack team and learn about the warmth of the people behind the ideas they shared so easily. And I looked forward to meeting them at conferences each year. There was a genuine interest in both the work I did and the person I was. This year won't change that. Jim, your presence in our field will not be gone. The energy you put into building the connections between language and technology lives on in the people who have known you and your work. Thank you for all your contributions, Jim. My thoughts are with you, Sue.
  
  Gus Leonard, Monterey Bay, CA
  
  
• Volker Hegelheimer
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 10:17:35
  
  This is very sad news.  Jim was a wonderful person and I will miss him very much.
  
  
• Ruth and Al Sanders
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 10:04:47
  
  What terrible news, not only for Sue and the rest of Jim's family, but for our profession. We have known Jim as a wonderful colleague, friend, and dinner companion since the early 80s. He was a pioneer in CALL and a steady contributor ever since. Farewell, Jim.
  
  Al and Ruth Sanders
  Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
  
  
• Leslie Parker Bryant
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 09:02:39
  
  I just heard the news and I am deeply sad.
  Jim was so energetic, friendly, fun and wise. It is my priveledge to say I knew this great man.
  He will be missed.
  My deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
  Peace and love,
  
  Leslie Parker Bryant
  
  
• Carl Follmer
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 08:57:07
  
  I don't think anyone can really forget Jim.  His lively personality and kind words always made everyone feel welcome.  He had a way of disarming you with the funny things he would say. I'm sorry I couldn't have worked with him for longer.  For Jim's sake, I hope there are many languages in heaven, otherwise I don't think he'll know what to do with himself.  He will certainly be missed here.
  
  
• Melissa Hoban
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 07:33:39
  
  Jim was one of the most helpful kind people. He only knew me for a few months and went out of his way to help me.  He was a great man and I am blessed to have met him.  Sadly the lord needed him, and it will be hard for us all to return to work and school without him near.  He is in a better place now though and will have limitless possibilities for all his goodness.
  
  
• Bernd Rüschoff
  Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 05:13:38
  
  message: It filled me with great sadness when I heard about Jim's death. He was indeed one of the pioneers in CALL and a great applied linguist. I greatly benefitted from his contributions right from the start of my own work in the field, and I have fond memories of the many encounters with Jim at CALICIO, EUROCALL and other conferences. He was a great source of inspiration, and his death is a great loss. My thoughts are with those he leaves behind.
  
  Ruhe in Frieden. In tiefer Trauer.
  
  Bernd Rüschoff, Germany
  
  
• Read Gilgen
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 23:29:47
  
  I'm stunned. There are some people who "just are"... part of your life, your profession, your experience, and you expect them always to be around. I'm deeply saddened by your departure.
  
  I have so many fond memories of the both of you, and us, in Iowa City, in Madison, and literally around the world. Your passion for language learning, along with the technology, from Dasher to Pics to whatever you could find to promote learning will long be remembered.  I, and IALLT, are grateful for your many contributions, not the least of which was helping me get the IALLT Journal back on its feet.
  
  My deepest condolences, especially to my dear friend Sue.
  
  
• Supyan Hussin
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 22:06:01
  
  Our hearfelt condolonces to his family. We always admire your intellectual contributions in this field. We won't forget you. We will always mention your name in our writing wherever appropriate. God bless your soul. May you rest in peace. Regards. Supyan. National University of Malaysia
  
  
• Hsien-Chin Liou
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 20:32:21
  
  A great loss in the field. I have benefitted from Jim's work since I was an MA student at Ames, Iowa State. I wish him peace.
  
  
• Christopher Sedarski
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 19:40:40
  
  I just learned of this news as I create DASHER type activities and encode audio.  I have never met Dr. Pusak, but I have admired his work and continue to benefit from his vision as I develop computer assisted activities for my students.  My condolences to his family, colleagues and friends.
  
  Very sincerely,
  C. Sedarski
  
  
• Otmar Foelsche
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 19:02:33
  
  This is so sad. But Jim will never be forgotten. Many years ago he sent me the first version of Dasher running on the Apple II, which did not only get enormous use in the German Summer School of the Atlantic at the University of Rhode Island but also led to my involvement in this field for the rest of my career. I will never forget Jim's wonderful sense of humor, expertise, and availability to others who needed his help. My thoughts are with you, Sue.
  
  
• Roger Paas
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 16:32:22
  
  message: I got to know Jim as a fellow student on the Wayne State Junior Year in Munich program in the mid-1960s.  It was always intellectually stimulating to be around him, and I admired the way he was systematically steeping himself in German literature.  After graduate school I did not see Jim again for about another 20 years, but he had changed little during that time, except for some gray hair and a few extra pounds.  He was still the same engaging person he had been.  This is the way he shall be remembered.
  
  
• Dorothy Chun
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 15:29:48
  
  This is very sad news indeed.  Just last September, I saw Jim and Sue at a conference at Iowa State, and he was his usual jovial self.  Jim and I had also served together on an Advisory Board at the University of Hawai'i, and Jim always asked insightful questions, with great wit.  My heart goes out to Sue and the rest of the family.  Jim will be missed very much.
  
  
• Terri Nelson
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 13:09:55
  
  As a graduate student (many, many moons ago), it was the presentations by Sue and Jim-- and working with their software-- that helped inspire me to learn more about how computers could improve and enhance the classroom curriculum.  
  
  Jim was a creative and kind person whose work in foreign languages was both cutting-edge and solid.  He had a keen sense of what could be done and practical strategies for accomplishing these tasks.
  
  My condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
  
  
• Noriko Nagata
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 12:01:05
  
  I'm very sorry to hear this sad news.  I met Jim when I was a visiting professor at the University of Iowa.  He was a leading and inspiring scholar in CALL.  I always enjoyed talking with Jim and Sue at CALICO conferences.  I will miss him.
  
  
• Jean-Pierre Berwald
  Monday, January 05, 2009 at 11:38:58
  
  This is such a sad moment. I saw Jim just a few weeks ago in Orlando and I'm so glad I had a chance to spend five minutes or so talking to him and Sue. I've known Jim since 1989 when I toured the U of Iowa and the PICS set up and have seen him so often at conferences and workshops. Jim was such an upbeat person--toujours de bonne humeur! I'll miss him--- so sorry to see him go.