Remembering David Turner
1960-2003

David Turner was one of the greatest professors I have ever had the opportunity to learn from. What made David such an amazing teacher was not just his knowledge and experience, but his passion and dedication to his work and his students. David's love of history intoxicated everyone around him. His ability to tell a story, make you think and ask questions brought life to the history, ruins and artifacts he shared with his students. David was an invaluable part of Lake Forest College's Greece Program and his passing is a tremendous loss. However, I find comfort in knowing that each one of us will carry on David's memory through our appreciation and love of Greece and her culture which David so generously shared.

—Kate Emerson Tarkowski

My name is Lindsay Bigelow and I was in Greece the 2001 Spring semester. David had such a great impact on my life in such a short period of time. It was not only in his teachings of the Byzantine era, but in the way he personally talked with students. He was honest, brillant, caring, stubborn, and passionate. All of these qualities I will love and cherish in my memories of David and the trip. I remember I was scared of him because the first night we all met, he had a room next to mine. I just bought a new guitar and the only chords I knew were G and A, so that is all I played. He knocked on the door and asked me if those were the only chords I knew and if I could stop playing them. I look back on it now knowing his personality and laugh. I learned alot from David and will never forget him. May peace be with you David.

—Lindsay Bigelow

I was saddened to hear of David's passing. I must say that he truly was someone who had the special gift of teaching. It's been almost ten years since I took part in the program, however I still am reminded of those wonderful experiences and lessons throughout my everyday life. It seemed David's teaching took place not only during the site visits and lectures but in the Tavernas and cafes. He will truly be missed by everyone he touched.

—J. Jeffery Johnson, Greece and Turkey Program 1994

This is Steven Cupic, LFC class of 1998. I just heard the dreadful and shocking news of David's passing only a few moments ago through an e-mail from a friend. I myself participated in the Beaver College program in 1997 and can say that aside from being an inspiration, David and I maintained an e-friendship for quite some time and in an ironic twist, I wrote him only days before his passing for a recommendation for graduate school. I was quite surprised when I did not hear a response, though I figured he was away on research. The last time we had spoken by phone was during the bombing of Serbia in 1999, when he called me to see that my family in Belgrade was alright, knowing that I had many relatives there and sending his prayers and the sentiment of the Greek people to that event.

The first day I met David, he approached me in the courtyard of the Beaver center, wearing his leather biker boots, the obligatory leather vest, and gripping a cup of coffee, he bummed a cigarette and sized me up saying, "you must be the Serb!" Instantly we clicked, talking about my heritage and the deep respect he had for my ancestry and his desire to travel there through the monasteries. So much so, that I introduced David to one of my dearest friends, a Serbian Orthodox hieromonk who contacted David whenever he travelled through Athens and they too became close.

As the only Orthodox student in the program that semester and taking two courses under him, David and I connected on a spiritual level. We debated politics vigorously, his staunch views still ring clear in my mind and more often than not were utterly opposed to my own, whereas on matters of religion the differences were few. Providing a coherent understanding of a faith abundant in mystery without detracting from its essence, his style was unmatched. Nonchalant in his teaching and as stated in the remembrance page, biting in wit, he was an absolute pleasure to be around; everyone wanted to be near him. There are two moments that I would like to share with you that occurred on the same day, both in Istanbul: The first was entering Hagia Sophia where we stood together, crossed ourselves with our heads bowed, paying little attention to those who viewed this with surprise, and the second, where later that same day I became ill, was hospitalized and David was there with me during the whole frightening experience, contacting my parents, and soothing their frayed nerves with a calm and measured voice that my mother still speaks of to this day. It was these two moments, one of spiritual bonding and understanding in a common faith and the other of an expression of care that made me find a true friend.

All my heartfelt condolences to the lives he touched which and the eyes he opened through his vast knowledge. The service he has done to an often overlooked and misunderstood faith is immeasurable. The world has truly lost a great Byzantologist, but moreso a great man, and a great friend.

Vecnaja pamjat! (Serbian for, may his memory be eternal)

—Steven Cupic

David Turner was a great man. He shed light onto a "dark" period known as the Byzantine Era. During any of his eccentric lectures, Professor Turner would wave his wand-like hands to cast his passion and knowledge onto us...his enamored students. Professor Turner enlightened me with the idea that cultures from the past were easily judged and misunderstood; something that I believe is evident in today's society. His brilliant ideas and unique perspective made him more of an individual than any soul I have ever known. David Turner will always live on, not only with me, but with my students as well.

—Professor Kevin Scott Fogelson '00