Eli and Greta on Zoom

On 11/15/2021 8:18 AM Greta Krippner wrote:

Dear Scott and Nancy,

Please forgive this out-of-the-blue email.

Although we've not met, I knew your son, Eli, and recently learned of his tragic passing this summer. Eli made a large impression on me, and I wanted to write and express my deepest condolences to you both. 

Eli enrolled in my sociological theory class last fall. Amidst a dreary semester of teaching on Zoom, Eli brought so much joy and energy to the class. He had such stimulating and big questions, a great mind, and a wonderful heart. We had a couple of hour-long meetings over the course of the semester just to discuss the state of the universe and it was so invigorating to talk to him. I remember he asked me what my favorite sociology books of all time were -- not a question I get often from undergrads (or for that matter, graduate students). Honestly, these were more like the kind of deep, meandering conversations you would have with a friend than a professor-student type interaction (not one question that I recall about how to improve his writing, boost his grade, or apply to graduate school -- of course, he didn't need help with such things as he was very a gifted student academically). In any case, I really felt a very easy and natural connection to Eli -- all the more improbable given that I never met him in person as the class was conducted entirely over Zoom.

This fall I introduced a new undergraduate seminar on the topic of Economic Justice. Actually, Eli had something to do with the new course, as he was often trying to apply the texts in classical sociological theory we were reading to understand more contemporary social problems. Partly inspired by this, I thought it might be fun to design a course that dealt with current social dilemmas a bit more directly. I was so hoping that Eli would take the course and I admit I was very disappointed when I saw my roster in August and realized he hadn't enrolled in the course. Of course, I had no idea what had happened to Eli -- I simply assumed he had moved on to other professors and other interests, as so often happens with undergraduate students. When I learned last week from Rachel Sherman the reason I didn't find Eli in my class this fall, I was (and am) truly heartbroken. 

There are no words to adequately express how deeply sorry I am for your loss. Thank you for sharing Eli -- all too briefly -- with me, and the world.

You should know that since I mostly teach larger, required undergraduate courses, I don't often get to know students very well. In my 18 years of college instruction, it is the rare student who stands out in class, and an even rarer student who makes a lasting impression. Eli did both. I won't forget him.

Thanks too for sharing the wonderful website you created and especially the video. It is delightful -- so much joy and exuberance -- and helps me to know Eli more fully. (A different context, but I saw that same spark in my class...).

I'll continue to have you -- and Eli -- in my thoughts.

Sincerely,

Greta

Greta R. Krippner 

Associate Professor 

Sociology Department 

University of Michigan 

Posted: August 2024