Remembering Ed Versluis

Ed Versluis died November 14, 2003 after a courageous two year battle with cancer. A Celebration of his life will be held December 13, 2003, 3 p.m. at Windmill Inn, Ashland.

Ed joined the Faculty of English in 1978 and retired in 2002. He previously taught at St. Mary’s College, Moraga, California. He also worked as a training coordinator with Cal/OSHA. His MA and Ph D degrees are from the University of Chicago.

His professional expertise lay in English and World literatures, but his interests led him to develop courses in Form and Value in the Arts and International Business English. Ed served as department chair of English and as interim director of Graduate Studies.

His passionate commitment to fair and equitable treatment of faculty led to active leadership in the Association of Professors. He served as chief negotiator during collective bargaining. His enthusiasm for learning and dedication to the welfare of others led him to do field archaeology in the American Southwest and in Europe, establish and strengthen ties between SOU and a university in Poland, and build houses for Habitat for Humanity in Mexico. Through organizations like Global Volunteers and Cross Cultural Solutions he provided service in Viet Nam and Ghana.

Ed leaves behind wife Diana Omura Versluis; daughters Andrea and Tanya Versluis, and Tanya’s husband Eric Laughlin; and stepson Tosh Omura Long and stepdaughter Ginny Long.

Ed’s students found him a demanding and lively instructor. His colleagues and friends valued his commitment to excellence, his irreverent wit, and his large humanity. His was a unique spirit, one that will be missed.