Comments on: Kevin Kelch

By: LaTasha Watkins

LaTasha Watkins — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:46:19 +0000

My life changed the day I met Prof. Kelch. He wasn’t just a professor to me; He was like a father. He gave me all the support I lacked my whole life. He was so caring and had so much concern for how students were doing. I loved the fact that I could just walk into his office If I had a problem, and he wouldn’t rest until he found a solution. Just the fact that he cared so much for the scholars program tells a lot about him. He put his life into a program that helped students who needed support in some way. He was so passionate about his work. People like him are very rare. I can’t really explain how much he meant to me. I’ll just say: He was a blessing to me.

By: Tina Thorpe

Tina Thorpe — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 07:17:42 +0000

I took a Photoshop seminar with Prof. Kelch during my first year in the Tech and Prof Comm graduate program. The class was taught by two graduate students, and I remember that Prof. Kelch would sit quietly at the back of the classroom while the student teachers managed the group. I would frequently turn around to find him writing or reading, and I always wondered why he wasnt more active in the class.

That was really all I knew of Kevin until he agreed to speak to me about my practicum after the departure of our program’s former director. Feeling a bit vulnerable and unsure of my future, I looked to the existing graduate faculty for help and guidance.

I reached Kevin on a sunny day in June of 2006. He had just left his house, but made time for me nonetheless. During our hour-long phone conversation, he provided me with a plethora of possible resources from within the university and beyond. He offered to look at my proposal, but was careful not to overstep his supportive advisory role. Above all, he was genuinely interested in what I was doing and displayed great enthusiasm for it.

After hearing about his passing, I found the follow-up email he had sent me after our conversation in June. The sheer sophistication of the correspondence was a testament to his craft, and I felt ashamed about my initial impression of Prof. Kelch, who was, undoubtedly, the one of finest communicators I have ever known.

By: Trish Steding

Trish Steding — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:41:17 +0000

I am deeply saddened by the news of Kevin’s passing. He was profoundly charming, brilliant and quick-witted. I was lucky to have him as a teacher for more than one class. I had him last spring semester for Rhetoric. He was full of life and energy.

I smile to myself now as I think about how he sometimes argued with himself when we discussed complex ideas in class. He was so intelligent, so great at looking at things from many perspectives. I wanted to talk to him some more about his dissertation. He had so much to share, and he was generous with it. I am so sorry he is gone.

By: Holly Helterhoff

Holly Helterhoff — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:25:26 +0000

Kevin changed my life both and professionally and as a friend. He supervised both halves of my practicum, and held my hand while I taught my first class, a thankless job I am sure.

Kevin was the best-read human being I have ever personally known. He had a gift for giving me a ton to read and leaving me wanting more, both related to our discipline and beyond. One of my favorite memories of Kevin involved both of us having your average kind of bad day, and him pulling me into his office, sitting me down, and having us read obscure poetry together for 20 minutes, which was just what I needed without me even knowing it. And I guess that was what he needed too, since he made it happen.

Kevin made a lot of great things happen, both at LTU and beyond. He loved his daughter so much, and he always had an update about whatever she was doing. His face would just light up whenever he mentioned Grace. I got him started in Photoshop, and all of his projects involved pictures of her. We had a lot of conversations that started out, “This weekend I Photoshopped Grace into a new background!” and he would just be so happy.

I miss him.

By: Andrea Freile

Andrea Freile — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:12:26 +0000

Though I never had Kelch as a professor, he made a huge difference in my life. Not only did he develop the initial proposal for the Media Communications Program which I am majoring for now, but he also directed the Scholars Program. He was so kind and showed so much passion for what he believed in and cared for. I had the opportunity to go to the Equity Conference with him for the weekend along with two other scholars. He made sure we knew what to expect and the questions he would ask us; you could tell how important it was for him to present the Scholars program. He wasn’t just a teacher, he was a friend. Other students felt the same way as well. When we went out on Scholar events students were not afraid to speak their minds and talk about issues in which many would have never done in front of teachers- you could talk to Kelch about anything. There are so many memories of how we laughed with him and even how he always wore his cop glasses- that was soo Kelch. He was definitely a great person. Though he is not living on earth anymore, he will continue to live in our hearts.

By: Emily Eisbruch

Emily Eisbruch — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:42:53 +0000

Thanks Dino, for sharing these excellent and helpful comments. Some of my memories of Kevin Kelch:

He had an eager intellect and a true love of ideas. He took the topics he was teaching very seriously and inspired his students to do the same.
He was deeply dedicated to Lawrence Tech -- he worked on a variety of programs, committees, and initiatives to strengthen LTU as an educational environment and to ensure that LTU was positioned to serve students of all backgrounds.
He had a ready smile and a nice presence. He was an good and interesting conversationalist.
He clearly felt extremely connected to his daughter and she was a vital part of his life.
Knowing him and having him as an instructor was a blessing in my life.