November 9, 2007
Yvette (Guerra) Jean
Mel was present throughout my graduate school career. I was a student in the first EPOS class he co-taught with John Heritage my very first quarter at UCLA, and he was there, serving on my dissertation committee, when I gave my final defense.
But the irony is that I never really got to know Mel. I recall meeting with him in his office once or twice about my dissertation, and I ran into him countless times in the halls or at talks. But I suppose I really came to know him through the people who felt close to him – Bob Emerson, Tamara, Kerry and Judith. This shows that you never really know what kind of effect you have on people. I respect and admire Mel because he had a strong positive influence on the lives of the people in my life who are special to me.
I think it's like this a lot in life: we hear such neat things about our friends' friends, that we come to feel very attached to them, and we always think we'll have a chance to get to know them better. Mel had an extraordinary life, filled with love and laughter, and I’m getting a second chance to learn more about his amazing life through developing his website … even if I am repeating the same pattern. I find myself becoming more attached to him almost by proxy, by reading the memories others had of him.