Last night, a dear man, Dr. Harold Jeske passed away.
Dr. Jeske, former chemistry professor at SMU, was admired and loved by many, many people and contributed to the success of countless lives. He celebrated the many victories of life including SMU athletics and helping a multitude of "his boys" get into medical schools all over the country.
Dr. Jeske served on many boards for SMU and was the faculty representative to the athletics council for several years.
As one of my friends stated, " How fiiting... Dr. Jeske should pass away on the night SMU beats TCU in basketball."
Final arrangments for a memorial service are being plannned.
RIP, "Doc" Jeslke.[/u][/b]
The Great Dr. Jeske passed away last night
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The Great Dr. Jeske passed away last night
by Stampede » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:16 pm
SMU...2nd to None
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by oldsalt » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:42 pm
As John begins his gospel, he describes God sending his Son as light shining among the darkness. I think it is altogether appropriate, if not providential, that on the day of the greatest amount of darkness, God chose to back one of His brightest lights, Christmas gift to all who knew him - Harold Jeskey.
My wife called me with the news this morning and I am still digesting the news. It is a dyspepsic moment of great magnitude. Work has become meaningless as my head pounds with the nreverberation of the many memories of this man. I'm sorry for taking this out on those of you who may suffer through all of this, but I've got to get it out.
If there were a repository for all the positive adjectives one could use to describe a human being, not one of them could be removed from the Jeskey bucket. It's possible though, some might find the terms"ribald" and "bawdy" a slight discoloration of his white robe.
For those who had the joy of being on the receiving end of one his his lectures in Organic Chemistry, double-entendre was elevated to an art form. Mozart's music had little on Jeskey's subtly (or sometimes not so subtle) crafted flight into the history of the Great Masters. Oh to be 20 again and to sit in that classroom listening to the liquid baritone coming out of that small man down there with the Charlie Brown head wearing his daily uniform of light blue short-sleeved dress shirt, khakis and the ever-present red tie (except on exam days, but that's another story) Well, no its not. There's the story of his 4-page exams - B students could answer the questions on the first page, only A students could answer the questions on the second page, only God could answer the questions on the third page, but only Dr. Jeskey could answer the questions on page 4.
The lectures never varied. And there were the specials - the legend of Peter Griesedieck- at which mysteriously appearing were former students lining up behind the back rows. These lectures were always delivered to his "men." It didn't matter that by the late 60's women were populating his classes. All references were to "men." "Men. remeber our motto (the pronunciation received excessive accent on and lingering on "mot", with a pause and distinct sounding of the second t - moT - to), Mustang Men work hard so that they can play hard."
There was no mean-spiritedness in the male-female distinction. After all, he was the loving father of two girls. It was just that all those y chromosomes out there were his "sons" for those that wise enough to pick up on it. He fathered literally in the low thosands of Mustang Men who would become doctors, dentists, researchers and even a few organic chemistry teaches.
His love of athletics was surpassed only by his love for his dear Marg. He was SMU's faculty athletic rep for almost three decades. He was mentor to coaches, athletics directors a a few thousand athletes. And he eerily remebered each of their names. Dr. jeskey was not without some athletic ability of his own. Handball was his game and the courts on the 2nd floor of the old Ownby Stadium served as his venus flytrap to the unsuspecting. many a football player would be dumbfounded as to how the little man with the size 14 Chuck Taylors could stand in one spot and have them running around as if they were tethered to his yo-yo.
He never missed a home football or basketball game and became an ardent fan of women's bball when it began. He was always supportive and never publicly critical - a dying art.
Well, this catharsis has helped immensely and I appreciate you hanging with me if you're still reading. There are alot of things I'm still confused about as I get older, but there is something of which I am certain. Boys need men, good men as role models. And men still need other good men for role models also.
I was lucky enough to be able to see Dr. Jeskey with some frequency
these past twenty years. He was always telling me, "I don't know why you do this, boy" - its funny, at 57, you enjoy being called "boy." I would tell him, "Dr. Jeskey, I'm getting more out of this than you are. "
I don't know if he ever believed me. But I can guarantee that as many people whose lives he touched can vouch, yes, Dr. Jeskey, all of us got more out of your life than we could have ever given you. I am thankful that God created this odd little creature named Harold Jeskey and I thank God that he allowed the intersection of our lives.
Happy Homecoming, Harold.[/i]
My wife called me with the news this morning and I am still digesting the news. It is a dyspepsic moment of great magnitude. Work has become meaningless as my head pounds with the nreverberation of the many memories of this man. I'm sorry for taking this out on those of you who may suffer through all of this, but I've got to get it out.
If there were a repository for all the positive adjectives one could use to describe a human being, not one of them could be removed from the Jeskey bucket. It's possible though, some might find the terms"ribald" and "bawdy" a slight discoloration of his white robe.
For those who had the joy of being on the receiving end of one his his lectures in Organic Chemistry, double-entendre was elevated to an art form. Mozart's music had little on Jeskey's subtly (or sometimes not so subtle) crafted flight into the history of the Great Masters. Oh to be 20 again and to sit in that classroom listening to the liquid baritone coming out of that small man down there with the Charlie Brown head wearing his daily uniform of light blue short-sleeved dress shirt, khakis and the ever-present red tie (except on exam days, but that's another story) Well, no its not. There's the story of his 4-page exams - B students could answer the questions on the first page, only A students could answer the questions on the second page, only God could answer the questions on the third page, but only Dr. Jeskey could answer the questions on page 4.
The lectures never varied. And there were the specials - the legend of Peter Griesedieck- at which mysteriously appearing were former students lining up behind the back rows. These lectures were always delivered to his "men." It didn't matter that by the late 60's women were populating his classes. All references were to "men." "Men. remeber our motto (the pronunciation received excessive accent on and lingering on "mot", with a pause and distinct sounding of the second t - moT - to), Mustang Men work hard so that they can play hard."
There was no mean-spiritedness in the male-female distinction. After all, he was the loving father of two girls. It was just that all those y chromosomes out there were his "sons" for those that wise enough to pick up on it. He fathered literally in the low thosands of Mustang Men who would become doctors, dentists, researchers and even a few organic chemistry teaches.
His love of athletics was surpassed only by his love for his dear Marg. He was SMU's faculty athletic rep for almost three decades. He was mentor to coaches, athletics directors a a few thousand athletes. And he eerily remebered each of their names. Dr. jeskey was not without some athletic ability of his own. Handball was his game and the courts on the 2nd floor of the old Ownby Stadium served as his venus flytrap to the unsuspecting. many a football player would be dumbfounded as to how the little man with the size 14 Chuck Taylors could stand in one spot and have them running around as if they were tethered to his yo-yo.
He never missed a home football or basketball game and became an ardent fan of women's bball when it began. He was always supportive and never publicly critical - a dying art.
Well, this catharsis has helped immensely and I appreciate you hanging with me if you're still reading. There are alot of things I'm still confused about as I get older, but there is something of which I am certain. Boys need men, good men as role models. And men still need other good men for role models also.
I was lucky enough to be able to see Dr. Jeskey with some frequency
these past twenty years. He was always telling me, "I don't know why you do this, boy" - its funny, at 57, you enjoy being called "boy." I would tell him, "Dr. Jeskey, I'm getting more out of this than you are. "
I don't know if he ever believed me. But I can guarantee that as many people whose lives he touched can vouch, yes, Dr. Jeskey, all of us got more out of your life than we could have ever given you. I am thankful that God created this odd little creature named Harold Jeskey and I thank God that he allowed the intersection of our lives.
Happy Homecoming, Harold.[/i]
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by Peruna88 » Fri Dec 22, 2006 5:01 pm
The past several years, I have had the pleasure of being part of a small group at the women's basketball dinners and games with Dr. Jeskey. It's not been the same this year, as he was unable to make it to Moody for the games.
God be with Jan and the rest of his family in this time of grief. We know that there's another great Mustang in the heavens watching down on us today.
God be with Jan and the rest of his family in this time of grief. We know that there's another great Mustang in the heavens watching down on us today.
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by MrMustang1965 » Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:52 pm
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Jeske once during a game at Moody. What an amazing man! I've heard so many people speak of him in reverence over the years. May he rest in peace.
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by MrMustang1965 » Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:01 pm
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Jeske once during a game at Moody. What an amazing man! I've heard so many people speak of him in reverence over the years. May he rest in peace.
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by MrMustang1965 » Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:41 pm
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Jeske once during a game at Moody. What an amazing man! I've heard so many people speak of him in reverence over the years. May he rest in peace.
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by FordtoTolbert » Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:20 am
Beautifully expressed, Oldsalt....post of the year, thank you. I wish I could have been on the other end of some of those double-entandre's....we all could learn something from him, especially the "not critical" of the team part, me included.
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by Dr Jeske friend » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:35 am
obviously from my name, this is a man that means a lot to my family. The two Doctors in our family were especially close and always will be. I only sat next to him at some games. And although I didn't graduate from SMU, he was just as accepting as if I had.
Oldsalt, I will make sure that everyone in my family reads your post. That sums up everything I heard or saw with this great man.
I don't post here much but read often. The next time I do it will be under a new name...but I still have a friend
Oldsalt, I will make sure that everyone in my family reads your post. That sums up everything I heard or saw with this great man.
I don't post here much but read often. The next time I do it will be under a new name...but I still have a friend
- Dr Jeske friend
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- Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:17 pm
by Dr Jeske friend » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:35 am
obviously from my name, this is a man that means a lot to my family. The two Doctors in our family were especially close and always will be. I only sat next to him at some games. And although I didn't graduate from SMU, he was just as accepting as if I had.
Oldsalt, I will make sure that everyone in my family reads your post. That sums up everything I heard or saw with this great man.
I don't post here much but read often. The next time I do it will be under a new name...but I still have a friend
Oldsalt, I will make sure that everyone in my family reads your post. That sums up everything I heard or saw with this great man.
I don't post here much but read often. The next time I do it will be under a new name...but I still have a friend
- Dr Jeske friend
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:17 pm
by ponyte » Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:00 pm
Jeskey was my father away from home. He was not lecturing when I pass through SMU but his home was always open. I spent many evenings watching football or the World Series with Dr. Jeskey, Marg and Jan. I also avoided getting bitten by Tag! From the time I was a small child, I remember the jolly and always pleasant Dr. Jeskey.
The first time I watched late night TV was in Dr. Jeskey's bedroom (the adults were downstairs visiting). I remember watching Death Valley Days and seeing his preserved spider in a jar.
When I first found out I was starting against Texas in '79, it was from Jeskey's kitchen phone that I called my parents to tell them the news. Odd that he knew the wonderful news before my parents knew.
When the alumni played the varsity in the spring game, it was at Jeskey's house that I spent the night prior to the game. His home stayed open to my wife and me even after I was long gone from SMU.
Every time I went over to Dr. Jeskey, he would graciously offer me a beer. Almost always Budweiser but on occasion he would offer a really special brew. I learn quite a bit about beer and how he used discretion when offering beer to folks. He told me that if he really knew a woman well, he would offer her a choice of Budweiser or a good Griesedieck.
Dr. Jeskey help me with some excellent advice. I was not discipline enough to play football and pursue pre med. He recommended getting a degree in an area that was not as demanding and then take pre med courses after I graduated. I took my pre med courses in a year and a half after SMU and got into med school. Jeskey found a way for me to pursue two dreams without sacrificing one for the other.
Ever time I was in Dallas I would stop by to visit with Dr. Jeskey and Marg. And we often went to dinner. He loved to go to El Fenix on Hillcrest at Northwest Highway. These visits were always delightful. Dr. Jeskey was clever in his humor and astounding in his recall of 'his boys'. He could remember his boys, their wife (or wives), their children, their careers and often any other interesting facts.
Jeskey always ask me to call him Harold but I just never could bring myself to call him anything other than Dr. Jeskey. My respect for him was too great to be so casual and yet he was never intimidating. A true gentleman and as kind a man as one will ever meet. This is not just a great loss for SMU but for thousands that have been touched by his presents.
Interestingly, Jeskey was also a SMU Letterman.
My deepest sympathies to Jan and I will 'raise a cold one' last time with Dr. Jeskey tonight.
The first time I watched late night TV was in Dr. Jeskey's bedroom (the adults were downstairs visiting). I remember watching Death Valley Days and seeing his preserved spider in a jar.
When I first found out I was starting against Texas in '79, it was from Jeskey's kitchen phone that I called my parents to tell them the news. Odd that he knew the wonderful news before my parents knew.
When the alumni played the varsity in the spring game, it was at Jeskey's house that I spent the night prior to the game. His home stayed open to my wife and me even after I was long gone from SMU.
Every time I went over to Dr. Jeskey, he would graciously offer me a beer. Almost always Budweiser but on occasion he would offer a really special brew. I learn quite a bit about beer and how he used discretion when offering beer to folks. He told me that if he really knew a woman well, he would offer her a choice of Budweiser or a good Griesedieck.
Dr. Jeskey help me with some excellent advice. I was not discipline enough to play football and pursue pre med. He recommended getting a degree in an area that was not as demanding and then take pre med courses after I graduated. I took my pre med courses in a year and a half after SMU and got into med school. Jeskey found a way for me to pursue two dreams without sacrificing one for the other.
Ever time I was in Dallas I would stop by to visit with Dr. Jeskey and Marg. And we often went to dinner. He loved to go to El Fenix on Hillcrest at Northwest Highway. These visits were always delightful. Dr. Jeskey was clever in his humor and astounding in his recall of 'his boys'. He could remember his boys, their wife (or wives), their children, their careers and often any other interesting facts.
Jeskey always ask me to call him Harold but I just never could bring myself to call him anything other than Dr. Jeskey. My respect for him was too great to be so casual and yet he was never intimidating. A true gentleman and as kind a man as one will ever meet. This is not just a great loss for SMU but for thousands that have been touched by his presents.
Interestingly, Jeskey was also a SMU Letterman.
My deepest sympathies to Jan and I will 'raise a cold one' last time with Dr. Jeskey tonight.
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ponyte - Posts: 11210
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by PonyPride » Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:32 pm
Well said, DH.DreadHead wrote:God bless, Doc... he was one of a kind. No one loved SMU more than he did.
Had the pleasure of working with Doc (at least briefly), and in the dozen-plus years since, he always treated me like I was one of his students, or maybe one of his own kids. Simply put, Doc was one of the nicest people I ever met, and as DreadHead said, there was nobody who loved this university and the Mustangs -- ALL of the Mustangs -- more than Doc did.
Sympathies to Doc's family, as his loss is a loss for all PonyFans.
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