Goodbye Ray

Ray Ventre even Loved by me, his smallest acquaintance. Want the ow to go away, want to go to last Thursday, To see his joy Again. Ray was my teacher On Thursdays, four to six He taught patterns and continuity Of the literary past, EN 281. A big name for the Enjoyment of Literature. He died Wednesday, The day before Thanksgiving Two thousand fourteen. Many are sad, I too, am Sad. Rate my professor Rated him a four point eight, Good, even great, but read what all students said for him to know his rank, to know our loss to know our sad. I was a late addition to Northern Michigan University I had planned another year at community college, but a job opened up for my wife in Marquette, so I suddenly needed, two weeks before they started: classes, guidance, a mentor, I needed someone to care about a situation they never heard of till now. Ray Ventre was the head of the English department, Ray cared, he set me up with classes including 281. A more enjoyable class would be hard to find. A more enjoyable teacher, impossible. To find. The joy he had The special kind That never fades, but grows Like cancer of the heart Spreading into all Who Love laugh And live for The happiest days. His heart was Too large to last. Goodbye Ray, and thank you for teaching me.