I’m honored to stand before you and be one of those whose kind thoughts about James Leck can be heard aloud. Because we knew James, our lives were richer, fuller, smarter; as we come together today, our lives—and the world at large—is darker for the loss of one of its shining lights. There are thousands of us, people who have in our hearts many stories about the humorous, genuine, and lively man whose life we’ve gathered here to celebrate. I have spent the past week reflecting on what James meant to me, as a friend, a mentor, a guiding light, and the most positive force in my career and field of work. The question that comes to mind over and over is, how can I encapsulate the life of someone who truly was, as they say, larger-than-life? I thought I would share with you a glimpse of how I came to know James and the many ways in which he has enriched my life and that of thousands of others.
There are so many adjectives to describe James. He was helpful & generous, extremely wise, inspirational & revolutionary. His immense knowledge-base combined with his keen emotional intelligence made him the ever-popular James Leck. He had so many fans, and not only because he was a Rock Star in the field of international education, but because when you engaged in conversation with James, he was all there – made you feel that he was your number 1 fan. His passion for intercultural interaction made him that superb connector of people. For me, James was an expert in human interaction!
The intersection of my life with that of James began at the University of Maine – I was a graduate international student, new to the international education field. James had just arrived as our international student & scholar Advisor. I recall that we had a visiting scholar whose name had a similar spelling to James’s last name, but was pronounced LeKH. I told James that from then on I was going to call him Mr. LeKH. He understood that I was using humor in trying to connect to him, knowing immediately and intuitively that I was seeking a connection to him as a mentor and a friend, he simply laughed. That began a beautiful friendship. In the years to come, whenever we would speak we would pride ourselves in who could get more KH into LeKH.
James had a keen sense that international students, like me, were so far away from their own families, and served in that role for me and my peers. He touched the lives of thousands of UMaine international students and scholars. Along with hundreds of other UMaine alumni, I am extremely saddened and shocked by the loss of this kind soul.
While at UMaine, I recall that I prank called James on his cell phone once letting him know that I was stuck at the Canadian border. I recall his compassionate voice over the phone line offering up suggestions: did I have my documents? When was the last time my I-20 had been signed? – having his cell phone number was like a treasure to my wife, Tracey and I. It was like having access to a comedian, a legend, a musician, a singer, a guru, a big brother, and a most respected colleague, all at the push of a speed dial.
James and I had an ongoing joke that he fibbed so that I could get my Green Card, but the truth is that this man had too much integrity to lie for anything or anyone. He reviewed my permanent residency application line by line, giving me suggestions and correcting my careless mistakes. Later on he wrote a letter of support for my permanent residency – I treasure that letter to this day and have used his words to write letters of support for other immigrants to this country. If you consider the magnitude of the impact that James had by teaching us to help others, while helping us, the scope is unimaginable. I envision a sea of human beings that have directly benefited from James’s generosity.
That he was a generous colleague is no secret – a BU colleague of mine recently shared a touching story that exemplifies his giving spirit. A colleague from another institution had reached out to BU asking if PDF files of a few of their forms could be shared so that they can be adapted to their institutional needs. When the BU colleague had approached James, asking if she could/should share this? He said NO, instead, give them the word document so that they can more easily adapt it to their needs! It is through this style of sharing and caring that he came to be widely known as the generous James Leck. Generous with his time, generous with his wisdom and compassion.
James taught us not to take ourselves too seriously – even in the face of the most frustrating government regulations and dry subjects – he might say, “why cry when you can laugh your way through this” – and laugh we did – When James had the microphone or the stage (he really didn’t need a mic with that booming voice) – we were delightfully entertained - the list of his accomplishments in this area is long. We have all watched in amazement as James entertained hundreds of our colleagues as he delivered important information and got us engaged in the field – he is the only one I know that could get hundreds of people to take off one shoe and throw it in a ring without question or hesitation – This was his signature and humorous way of pairing up large groups of people for an activity.
One of my favorite James moments was the SEVIS Song & Dance. It was 2004, at the Annual NAFSA Conference. Along with a small group of creative colleagues, James performed a song & dance that encapsulated what we had experienced in our line of work for the past year, which brought tears and smiles to the faces of the audience at a time when we were all at the end of our ropes with incomprehensible government regulations. The unforgettable performance at the 2009 Spring Immigration Workshop of ICE ICE Baby; a spoof of the 90’s song with modified lyrics to mock Immigration & Customs Enforcement, solidified his legendary performance record.
He worked ever so hard, but always seemed to enjoy his work and engaged in fun with the people around him. Hanging out with James was never dull.
To say that James was an inspiration to me and thousands of others would be an understatement. Diogenes, the Greek Philosopher, is credited for coining the term Cosmopolitan – a world citizen – for me, James will always be that model citizen of the world. His allegiance to humanity was beyond any polity. Here, I borrow words from Janet Bennett, a scholar that James was fond of, who used these words to describe our current President, back in 1993. James had this unusual ability to combine insight and diplomacy, self-confidence and modesty. He was a man in the middle of many cultures. He appeared to claim for himself an identity that was beyond any single cultural perspective.
To inspire us, James often quoted Milton Bennett, noting that “International Education professionals are quiet revolutionaries in the history of human interaction.” Although James can hardly be described as quiet; for me, he was the epitome of that quiet revolutionary.
I wish to express my most sincere and deepest condolences to James’s family, especially his loving partner for life, Sue. We have lost an amazing light in this world. You, more than anyone, know how very true that is. Please know that thousands of colleagues and former students of James, like me, are thinking of you at this very difficult time. Thinking of James, always puts a smile on our faces and in our hearts. And we stand with you in these moments of grief.
To my colleagues, though my heart aches like yours, I think we can make James proud by following in his footsteps as quiet revolutionaries continuing the important work that he was engaged in; cultivating global citizens and tomorrow’s peace makers. In that work, as in the love of all those whose life intersected with his, he will live on.
James, though your time with us passed too quickly and was much too short, know that you left in us the pursuit of excellence, the wealth of friendship, and the wisdom to have values to live by, as well as skills to live on. I love you and I miss you. May your memory be forever a blessing and an inspiration to us all.
Amir Reza
July 12, 2011