Quintin Johnstone

Abstract

In preparing these remarks, I was struck by how difficult it is to compose an effective retirement speech. This was not the case because of the subject, whom I have known and liked for years and who has surely left his mark, but because of the ambiguous nature of the event. The retiree, after all, is not through working, but only through going to faculty meetings; Quintin will continue to prosper. The ambiguity of the occasion thus left me uncertain about whether to cheer or to wail and wondering what the audience and, most of all, the retiree expects. I then realized that I was confusing a retirement speech with a eulogy. My problems were over. What the hell, if Quintin wanted a eulogy, he should have done something about it.