The Passing of a Mentor and Friend

Dr. Fred Sontag was a 57 year veteran of the Philosophy Department at Pomona College.  He was a great mentor, teacher, and friend to me (and so many) while I was in college.  Fred passed away on Sunday.

He hired me my first year to help with some office work and from this simple work study job, a relationship was formed that helped me get through the difficult college years, aided my transition into the 'real' world, and laid the groundwork for my belief that people are inherently good, they just often make bad decisions and need a little help and guidance.

A few memories that will always bring back a smile:

- He had the worst penmanship, yet I was trusted to translate hand written page after page when I typed his 1998 book Truth and Imagination.  I still have a signed copy.  I wonder how much of it I altered with my inability to read his writing!

- Anytime Fred asked you to move "a little something" at his house, make sure you understand that eventually he meant that you would be moving everything from his old house to his new house that would fit in your car!

- He always loved to eat at the Harvard Square restaurant in downtown Claremont, I have only eaten at this restaurant with him and he never let me pay the bill even after I had graduated

- He complained to the IT department that his computer was slow and he needed an upgrade, no matter what computer Fred had he will always be the slowest typist I have ever seen and no computer could help that

- My love for writing hand written notes came from Fred.  Even after graduating, he would send me a note of a thought or something he wanted me to read.  With email and instant communication, writing is a lost art but who doesn't like to get a hand written note in the mail?

Thanks Fred. . .