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Reflections
Edward T. Rogowsky's life and career transcended the experience of
those who worked with him daily. Therefore, we thought it appropriate to introduce
this remembrance by borrowing from several individuals-both in and out of CUNY
- who knew and loved him.The following statements are excerpted from a May 2, 2001 memorial service
held at the CUNY Graduate Center in Ed's honor. (Copies of that service are
available by request through the Internship Program office.) ...I met Ed Rogowsky in the mid-1970s. [There was] lots of noise and
commotion. But right in the middle, in the vortex of the CUNY hurricane, there
was one Port of Calm. There was Ed, schmoozing, confiding, with his hand lightly
caressing your shoulder, putting people at ease, guiding the flow, joking, laughing,
paving the way to accomplish good for the University. He looked me over, called
me 'BOYCHIK,' and we became fast friends ... No one was more dedicated to the
Internship Program than Ed. Thousands of New Yorkers benefited from his leadership
in providing opportunities for student success... All Hail Dear Ed Rogowsky! He was a wonder worker with students, eliciting
their interest and organizing their knowledge of the city, state and nation's
politics and public administration... Nature could not have done better by him,
nor by us in getting to know him. Ed was a significant source of comfort and
support for CUNY .. It was a heartwarming experience to have known and to have
basked in the sunshine of [his] friendship ... The world seems better for his
having been among us... Ed Rogowsky had an indomitable spirit that infused everything he did, and that
energized everyone who knew him, who worked with him, who encountered him even
casually. That spirit lives on after him and continues to enrich the lives of
all who were fortunate enough to ever spend time with him. Eddie was many things to many people within CUNY and outside of it: ... a
tireless defender of CUNY in City Hall and Albany. .. a crusader for gay and
lesbian rights ... and, last but not least, a writer of wonderfully politically
topical show tunes. He was a very special human being... He was The Original Brooklyn Dodger
Fan... He was an intellectual with a great personality. .. As a professor,
he was the most caring... He loved his scholarship. He loved his students.
They consumed his professional life ... He was the best listener. .. because
he really listened-A YIDDISHA COUNSELIER Ed touched everyone ... He loved
us all. He integrated the practice of politics into his teaching, his research and
his academic life... He understood the inextricable relationship between politics
and policy... What was truly unusual about Ed is that he could speak to the
most esoteric debates in Political Science, but he understood that teaching
and research must also be about practice... Ed believed in the pedagogic value
of student internships in government, ...and one of the most important gifts
you can give to students is that experience as an intern ... If we are to teach
about the values of citizenship in a democracy, we better be engaged in the
public discourse was the message that I got from Ed Rogowsky. No matter what circle you are in, they're talking about Ed Rogowsky. He was
a MENSCH! Professor Ben Rivlin, Ralphe Bunche Institute on the United Nations
He did a wonderful job of developing the Internship Program. I'm so glad it's
been named the Edward T. Rogowsky Internship Program in Government and Public
Affairs ... It's one of the highlights of CUNY! There was not one student who asked a question and did not get an answer from
him ... He always made time to develop individuals in whatever capacity he could.
Above all else-and a lot could be said about this wonderful man-Ed continues
to teach us that ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! |