Karen M. Drabenstott
Associate Professor
School of Information
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1092 USA
Voice: (734) 763-3581
Fax: (734) 764-2475
karen.drabenstott@umich.edu
I write the message to the CRISTAL-ED membership with great sadness. For many months, Steve Wooldridge, CRISTAL-ED's technical moderator, has battled terrific pain. It started with a nasty infection following a root canal and continued with terrible back pain. In early May, Steve was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer had spread to several organs and the only treatment was radiation for the incredible pain. Steve messaged me the diagnosis a few days before my mother was scheduled for coronary bypass surgery at a hospital in Orlando, Fla., Steve's news left me numb at a time when I thought I had no more numbness to spare.
Steve and I corresponded about his terminal illness. Except for a few days in mid May, I have been in Central or South Florida and upstate New York helping my mother recuperate from surgery. Steve continued moderating CRISTAL-ED. I asked him via E-mail whether he wanted to continue and he did not respond directly, preferring instead to quietly continue the job of CRISTAL-ED moderator. A week ago Sunday, Steve messaged me that he could not continue as CRISTAL-ED moderator. The pain was intense and he was having trouble doing much more than lying in bed all day. Steve died this past Sunday. His parents had driven to Ann Arbor from Iowa and they were by his side at the end.
Steve's work was transparent to most CRISTAL-ED members. He received dozens of messages on a daily basis -- many of them were the types of messages you don't want to see cluttering your E-mail or CRISTAL-ED digests, for example, those nasty SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE messages, commands to the LISTSERV to see archived volumes or get information that members send to all of us instead of sending them to the administrative E-mail address for CRISTAL-ED. CRISTAL-ED digests are always compilations of substantive messages from our members. That's because Steve took great care to post your substantive messages and handle the other requests on a message-by-message basis.
Steve did a lot more as CRISTAL-ED moderator. He compiled the FAQ that I send to prospective guest editors. He reviewed draft introductions from our guest editors. With the guest editor's approval, he edited a few rough introductions. He contacted guest editors when discussion on their topics waned and made suggestions about how to get the conversation started again. Several times in the last four years, we had gaps in our schedule and Steve volunteered to lead discussion to ensure continuity.
Steve took one vacation in the last four years! He visited his parents over one Christmas. Since CRISTAL-ED's message traffic is so low during the holiday season, no one noticed that no one was "minding the store" on CRISTAL-ED. Steve was always prepared to do the daily work of editing daily digests and handling dozens of requests. I will certainly miss Steve Wooldridge and I know our CRISTAL-ED membership will also miss him.
I would like to call on the CRISTAL-ED membership to write a short message acknowledging Steve's dedication to CRISTAL-ED. I would like to save your thanks and send them to Steve's parents as a tribute to Steve's contribution to CRISTAL-ED, the School of Information, and the profession generally. That's all you have to do is push the "REPLY" button on your E-mail program and say a few words of thanks in your message. Or you can send a message directly to CRISTAL-ED at the address cristal-ed@si.umich.edu.
We will dedicate the remainder of this week to a tribute to Steve Wooldridge. Our daily digest will be filled with thanks to Steve. I want to thank our membership in advance for posting an unprecedented number of messages to the LISTSERV. Vlad Wielbut will be taking over Steve's technical moderating duties and, since Vlad is working with the MAJORDOMO software for the first time, we hope things go smoothly for the next few days. In the meantime, I will search for a permanent technical editor. Please, hit the "reply" button on your E-mail program and send your thanks to CRISTAL-ED acknowledging Steve's excellent work over the last several years. Thank you so much.
Elisabeth Logan
Associate Dean
School of Information Studies
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Fl 32306-2100
Voice: (850) 644-8106
Fax: (850) 644-9763
Thanks to Steve for all his good work on the LISTSERV. His work is appreciated even by us "lurkers."
Tricia Rose
rose@haas.berkeley.edu
Diane M. Lewis
Serial Records and Exchange Librarian
U.S. Geological Survey Library National Center
Reston, Virginia 20192
Voice: (703) 648-4399
Fax: (703) 648-6373
Dear Friends,
I was so sorry to learn of Steve Wooldridge's death. He ran the technical side of this LISTSERV so smoothly and effectively! We are all diminished by this loss.
Shirley Richardson
Catalog Librarian
Angelo State University
San Angelo, Texas 76909
Voice: (915) 942-2221
Fax: (915) 942-2198
Shirley.Richardson@mailserv.angelo.edu
I was very sorry to hear of Steve's death. He was a great help to me during my stint as guest editor, and will be greatly missed.
L. Hunter Kevil, Ph.D.
Head, Serials Department
Ellis Library
University of Missouri-Columbia
Voice: (573) 884-8760
Fax: (573) 884-5243
mulkevil@showme.missouri.edu
Steve was indeed an effective behind-the-scenes worker. During my guest editorship a few months ago, there were some technical problems with E-mail that were beyond his control. Normally this would have resulted in not having the introductory material ready for posting on the scheduled day. The only result the readers noticed was that there was a delay of one day in passing the baton to me. Without his dedication and hard work (7 days a week) CRISTAL-ED would not have been the smooth-sailing success it has become.
Denise Bachman
Head of Technical Services
Odessa College
Odessa, Texas
I just want to express my thanks to Steve Wooldridge for his work as CRISTAL-ED's technical moderator. I know that he went out of his way and above and beyond the call of duty to keep things flowing smoothly for the CRISTAL-ED members. All of his work as FAQ compiler, discussion leader, digest editor, and request handler is greatly appreciated. He will be missed.
Anita M. Duhart
Directora de Bibliotecas
Universidad Nacional Andres Bello
Republica 330
Santiago, Chile
Voice: (562) 689-5919, ext. 322
Fax: (562) 689 5919, ext. 328
I'm really impressed after Karen's message. I don't express myself very well in English so I'll continue in my native Spanish. Sorry. La verdad es que cuando lei el mensaje de Karen Drabenstott de lo que habia ocurrido con Steve Wooldridge (perdon si me equivoco con los apellidos), quede muy impresionada, y con mayor razon si consideramos el gran interes que el siempre demostro en CRISTAL-ED. Es realmente una gran perdida su partida y creo que hizo muchisimo por la lista de interes, y no me cabe duda que tambien por otras causas.
Paul M. Gherman
University Librarian
611B General Library
419 21st Avenue South
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 37240
Voice: (615) 322-7120
Fax: (615) 343-8279
gherman@library.vanderbilt.edu
The wonder of the Internet is that it allows us to touch so many lives, allows our minds to become close, and our ideas to be shared in a way never possible before. There are many who make this wonderful world possible through their dedication, creativity, and hard work. Steve Wooldridge was one of those individuals who we depended on to sustain this new world. We will miss you, Steve.
Nancy McAuliffe
Old Dominion University Library
I have been receiving CRISTAL-ED postings for a while now and am shocked and saddened by the news about its technical moderator. The discussion group evidenced excellent work from the behind-the-scenes people and we readers are most appreciative of their efforts. The untimely loss of Steve touches us all on a human and daily basis as we got LISTSERV messages that frequently. For his family and personal friends, please accept my condolences.
Joanie Howland
Library Director
Ute Mountain Tribal Library
Towaoc, CO
I have been lurking on CRISTAL-ED since its inception. I joined while still in library school and although I have never posted to the list, I credit the list with helping me pass my comps for my MLS in 1995. Since library school, CRISTAL-ED has kept me in touch with current thinking in this very interesting profession. Steve's work has helped me be a better librarian. I am sorry I did not get to thank him. Thanks to his parents and family for nurturing him so he could touch so many of our lives.
Martin J. Cohen
Academic Resources Technologies
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga CA 94575
Voice: (925) 631-4229
Fax: (925) 376-6097
mcohen@stmarys-ca.edu
I did not know Steve Wooldridge, but I very much appreciate the work that he did. CRISTAL-ED is one of the very few lists that I subscribe to. It is the only one that I read knowing that messages will be uniformly on point and generally valuable. His efforts have, as you say, facilitated the thoughtful discussion of people around the world in considering in the broadest, most comprehensive way the issues we face as information and library professionals. CRISTAL-ED is an important part of the dialog about what kind of society we are going to have. To the extent Steve made it possible, his time was well spent. I'm sure you will miss his help, as will we all.
Conrad Yamamoto
Reference Librarian
SMCo Library - Foster City Branch
1000 East Hillsdale Blvd.
Foster City, CA. 94404
Voice: (650) 574-4842 x225
Fax: (650) 572-1875
To the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Steve Wooldridge, though we never met, I shall remember him as what was best in our profession.
Cynthia Barrancotto
Reference Librarian
Proctor Library
Flagler College
St. Augustine, Florida
"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." George Bernard Shaw
I did not personally know Steve Wooldridge, but his work as the CRISTAL-ED technical moderator has been impressive. Since I have subscribed to the list (about a year ago) it has run smoothly, and I have come to expect flawless messages daily. It is a testament to his dedication and professionalism that Steve continued with his duties while yet in severe pain.
I am grateful to him; he will be missed!
Katharina J. Blackstead
Library Advancement Officer
221 Hesburgh Library
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
Voice: (219) 631-6657
Fax: (219) 631-6772
blackstead.1@nd.edu
Vlad (Wlodek) Wielbut
Alliance for Community Technology
School of Information
The University of Michigan
304 West Hall
550 East University Ave.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1092
wlodek@umich.edu
I would have never known how much Steve had contributed to this LISTSERV if I weren't asked to substitute for him. I agreed with little hesitation: I knew how important and valuable CRISTAL-ED was and thus sparing an hour or two from my day in order to keep these discussions going did not seem like such a big sacrifice. And, frankly, I thought it would be easy. Then I started bumping my head on the idiosyncrasies of this ancient technology and, after numerous trials-and-errors, managed to send a message to the LISTSERV... with wrong title, volume, and issue number. Quite an embarrassment for someone who does not consider himself a novice when it comes to servers.
Then my mailbox started filling up with "undeliverable mail" bounces and "I'm on vacation" notices. Then came the contributions, which needed to be stripped off all the cryptic server gobbledygook and submitted to the upcoming digest.
Panic set rather quickly. I looked at the quickly rising pile of tedious, manual labor and I thought: "Ohmigosh, I won't be able to do any other work!"
How did Steve do it? How did he manage to run this thing so smoothly that his work disappeared from our consciousness? How could he go through all this, day after day, and still keep studying, pursuing his Ph.D., and working on dozen other projects? And continue running this LISTSERV even after the pain of terminal illness had settled itself in for good?
I don't know. I know, however, that his devotion made this whole thing possible and that he must have loved what he was doing. If only for that, he deserves my utmost respect.
Jane B. Robbins
robbins@lis.fsu.edu
CRISTAL-ED has been an important source of ideas and connection to my colleagues for the past several years. It is about the best list with which I have been associated. The monitoring has been superb.
What a loss, but what a model has been set. Thanks for Steve Wooldridge.
Mari Davis
School of Information, Library and Archive Studies
The University of New South Wales
Sydney 2052 Australia
mdavis@silas.unsw.edu.au
With many thanks for Steve's contributions to CRISTAL-ED. It has been the most intelligent and informal way of keeping up-to-date with international opinion in information and library studies. Thanks, Steve, from Australia.
Anthony Debons, Ph.D
Professor Emeritus
School of Information Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
debons@lis.pitt.edu
I didn't know Steve Wooldridge personally but of course, I have known him and his work. I agree with the comments that you expressed and share your sentiment of loss. Persons of his character, capability, and dedication establish the significance of our field. And the dedication he applied to it lessen the burdens of the profession that we all share.
Michael Seadle
Editor, Library Hi Tech
Michigan State University
Voice: (517) 432-0807
seadle@pilot.msu.edu
I knew of Steve Wooldridge's existence ever since I joined the list, but he handled things so quietly and efficiently that I forgot about him most of the time. Like so many librarians, he made it possible for others to carry on their work and to look good. We shall miss him!
Roger C. Greer
Dean Emeritus
University of Southern California
and Roe Cross Professor Emeritus
Emporia State University
rgreer@rmii.com
I did not know Steve Wooldridge, but I can say with authority that our profession is greatly diminished by his death. His inconspicuous contributions to the success of the discussions on the LISTSERV were enormous. He leaves a large gap in our lives.
Peter G. Underwood
Director, School of Librarianship
University of Cape Town
Republic of South Africa
pgu@education.uct.ac.za
I met him only over E-mail but quickly came to respect his knowledge and guidance during two sessions of "guest editing." The CRISTAL-ED LISTSERV gained immeasurably from his work; in Cape Town many of the discussions on the LISTSERV have had a beneficial effect as we have thought our way through a problem or followed the discussions of colleagues: the effects of his work have flowed well beyond the U.S. borders.
Rest in peace.
Dr. Uwe Jochum
Fachreferent / Subject Specialist
Universitaet Konstanz
Bibliothek
78457 Konstanz
Germany
uwe.jochum@uni-konstanz.de
I am extremely sad to hear that Steve Wooldridge has passed away. Being a new member of CRISTAL-ED, I enjoyed from the start the accuracy and smoothness of Steve's handling the daily message-mess, making of CRISTAL-ED an exemplary discussion list in the Internet.
Prof. Dr. Hans-Christoph Hobohm
Potsdam Applied University (FH)
Dept. "Archiv - Bibliothek - Dokumentation"
Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 4 / D-14467
Potsdam, Germany
I must say this is really a shock for me. On CRISTAL-ED I mainly was lurking all the time but this I did intensively. I always admired the job Steve did and I know what I am talking about since I am moderator of several LISTSERV-lists too. For me CRISTAL-ED is after the HUMANIST (one of the first mailing lists) the best example for me and my students of how to take advantage of the new technologies on a high-quality level.
Lets keep it alive as long as it is appropriate technology in order to give our tribute to the marvelous job of Steve Wooldridge.
Caroline Coughlin
coughli@rci.rutgers.edu
Steve Wooldridge ran the most professional LISTSERV in the field of library and information studies. One knew that any message sent would be edited well and placed in context. The wider electronic community that only knew a part of Steve shares with his family and immediate colleagues the loss of a fine, brave person.
Filiberto Martinez
Coordinator
College of Library Science
National Autonomous University of Mexico
felipe@cuib.laborales.unam.mx
My gratitude to Steve for helping us in the way he did. I am sure that people like him could help to change the world a little bit.
Robert Bauchspies
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Washington, D.C.
robert.bauchspies@exim.gov
I am saddened to hear of the recent death of Steve Wooldridge. While I did not know him personally, I did have the opportunity to exchange some one-to-one E-mail with him regarding some of my postings on CRISTAL-ED. In one case, a message I had sent got lost and subsequently did not make the closing on a particular theme. In notifying Steve, he took care of it with the speed and courtesy which is not regularly found in volume lists and electronic exchange. In another case, Steve graciously made a post-posting adjustment to a couple words that I, upon later reflection, thought were a little misleading to what I was intending to say. Again, without any fanfare, announcements or otherwise, Steve quietly made the change.
It is always cause for reflection when someone behind the scenes of an activity which touches your life and so many others passes away. It is that much more disabling when such a countenance as Steve's leave us in such a painful way. For all of us, we must digest this news in such a way which ultimately compels us to move on, thus filing or shelving such troubling and sad development in such a place that hopefully will remain available in our reflection yet more importantly, will serve as reminder to what is truly good in the human condition. The ways and means in which Steve conducted his affairs can, should and will for me at least, serve as a reminder that even in the age of faceless electronic communication, the human presence is real, the lives of each are genuine.
Thank you, Steve, and Godspeed in your journeys along the endless highway.
Richard Leegant
Southern Connecticut State University
School of Library and Information Sciences
richardleegant@Ridgefield-CT.com
I want to offer my thanks to Steve for all he did. I am relatively new to this LISTSERV but have looked forward to its content for the last six months; unbeknownst to me I owe much of this to Steve. My condolences to his family and close friends.
Nettie Lagace
lagace@umich.edu
I was surprised and saddened to read Karen's message about Steve and how quickly he was taken ill. Over the past several years that CRISTAL-ED has been operating, I've often wondered in the back of my head just how Steve calmly managed to keep up with all the behind-the-scenes work that comes along with the job of moderating such a list. I wasn't really surprised to learn that he hadn't taken a vacation. I knew Steve only by sight at the School of Information, but he always seemed to be in a good mood, willing to help other people on a moment's notice, and full of insight. He was clearly more than just a moderator. I extend sympathy to Steve's family, and wish them strength in their time of loss. Steve was a very giving person.
Sylvia E.A. Piggott
InfoPLUS-KM
Voice: (514) 486-0305
Fax: (514) 486-9809
spiggott@total.net
I would like join other CRISTAL-ED contributors and lurkers in conveying condolences to Steve's parents, other family, and friends. This medium allowed us to share our opinions on a great variety of professional subjects while Steve quietly kept the engine going. We appreciate the work he did.
May he rest in peace.
Mavis Cariou
Faculty of Information Studies
University of Toronto
CARIOU@fis.utoronto.ca
Steve Wooldridge's generosity, dedication, and professional competence will be greatly missed. I'm sorry for his parents' loss -- and for ours.
Rosmarie H. Fouad
Coordinator of Library Instruction and Distance Services
Eli M. Oboler Library
Idaho State University
fouarosm@isu.edu
I became aware of Steve's involvement in CRISTAL-ED earlier this year when I participated as a discussion leader on the list. I want to reemphasize Karen's comment that in the computer world it is often people in the background that are responsible for smooth running of things. CRISTAL-ED is a fine list and has been smooth running. We the participant of CRISTAL-ED owe many thanks to Steve Wooldridge. I am very sorry to hear he has left us.
James E. Crooks
University of California, Irvine
jecrooks@uci.edu
Steve was a friend one could count on being there for you. As a Michigan alumnus, I encouraged Steve to go to Ann Arbor. I first met Steve when I moved from Ann Arbor to Irvine to work at the University of California, Irvine, where Steve was the media librarian. He was well-liked by his colleagues here and the news of his cancer shocked and saddened us all. I am going to Ann Arbor after ALA. I was going to say my farewell. I will miss him.
Ben Speller
SLIS
North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina
Speller@nccu.edu
Steve is the example of a silent but significant contributor and support of our profession. We should all draw strength from what he gave so unobtrusively.
I am sure that his parents miss him. They should be proud that their son has made the world a better place.
Stephney Ferguson
sfergusn@uwimona.edu.jm
Just saying thanks from Jamaica, West Indies, in tribute to Steve Wooldridge.
Lynda Weissmann
Catalog Maintenance Department
Science Library
University of California, Irvine
leweissm@sun1.lib.uci.edu
I am not familiar with Steve's work for CRISTAL-ED, however, I do have fond memories of him from the University of California, Irvine. He worked in a different department than I, but he was always good for witty remarks. He had a sense of humor that fit well with mine and so chatting with him was always a delight. When I heard of his illness, it made me so sad to think of that big, laughing man debilitated and in such pain. I feel fortunate to have known him. My sympathy to all of his family, friends, and co-workers.
Anne K. Abate
Doctoral Candidate
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
abate@scis.nova.edu
I was crushed to hear the news about Steve. Although I never met Steve in person, he was a real person to me. Steve edited my first CRISTAL-ED essay and contributed suggestions. In the years that have followed my first experimental contributions to CRISTAL-ED, he has always been the wizard behind the list and we will miss him very much.
We are now seeing a new way for individuals to contribute to the profession. Steve, as the faceless technical wonder behind this list, has brought so many of us together across the globe. We must all remember him for that contribution.
There is no adequate way to remember and mourn someone you have never met. In lieu of mourning, I send best wishes and kind thoughts to his friends and loved ones.
Thanks, Steve.
Robert M. Ballard
rballard@bambi.acc.nccu.edu
Having lost two close relatives to cancer since November, I know the pain that Steve's family is going through and certainly being so young makes it even more difficult.
I recently E-mailed Dr. Holland to say how much I enjoyed talking with many of Steve's Michigan associates at the recent SLA meeting. So now let me say that I am proud to be a Michigan graduate, not to gloat, but because many of us "old timers" do welcome you youngsters as our replacements. I am sorry to have never known Steven personally. But from all of the graduate programs, if we can have clones of Steven Wooldridges, the profession is and will be in good hands.
Arlene G. Taylor
Associate Professor
Department of Library and Information Science
School of Information Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Voice: (412) 624-9452
Fax: (412) 648-7001
taylor@lis.pitt.edu
I am so sorry to learn of Steve Wooldridge's passing. He was a superb moderator for the list. He once saved me great embarrassment by holding back from the list a message that I should have sent directly to an individual. I was very grateful.
I was always amazed at how dedicated Steve was -- sending out new issues of the collected messages several times a day sometimes. Most of the time, as Karen said, we were unaware of all the work he did.
We will miss Steve greatly.
Maggi R. Seymour
Master's Student
School of Information
University of Michigan
I've never met Steve Wooldridge, but from the dozens of comments I have read here, it's obvious that he was highly esteemed by his coworkers and friends. I only hope that I can fill his large shoes here on this list as the temporary replacement list manager, and that you will all bear with me while I learn my way around majordomo!
William Arthur Liebi
Academic librarian
Stadt- und Universitaetsbibliothek Bern
CH-3000 Bern 7 Switzerland
Voice: +41 +31 320 32 259
Fax: +41 +31 320 32 99
liebi@stub.unibe.ch
Steve worked behind the scenes, discretely, steadily, allowing the CRISTAL-ED discussion list to run smoothly.
His heartful personality was seizable in his short, friendly messages he sent to us on occasions. He was attentive, ready to give a hint, to make a remark, to suggest improvements. His kindness, helpfulness, commitment have distinguished him as an extraordinary person. His competence and manner to achieve his goals have set an example in the professional world. We owe him a great many.
We shall remember you, Steve.
Robert P. Holley
Director
Library and Information Science Program
106 Kresge Library
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 48202
Voice: (313) 577-4021
Fax: (313) 577-7563
AA3805@WAYNE.EDU
I too would like to add my words of thanks to Steve for the efforts that he made in helping me moderate two discussions. He'll be missed.
Ned Fielden
San Francisco State University
Reference/Instruction
1600 Holloway Ave.
J. Paul Leonard Library
San Francisco, CA 94132-4030
Voice: (415) 338-1454
fielden@sfsu.edu
It has taken several days to digest this message. It leaves a lump in the throat -- one of the drawbacks of Internet life perhaps is that so much takes place "out of sight." The extraordinary work that Steve did remained hidden, meaning that most of us never had even a glimmer of thought that the body holding up the man doing all of this was failing.
Steve represented, to me at least, several of the unusual qualities that typify (and glorify) the profession.
To friends and family of Steve: we grieve, for he was a fine and selfless person, a servant to the profession and intellectual inquiry. For the list, we have lost an irreplacable member, and our appreciation is full, if mournful at the moment.
Steve, thanks.
Sylvia Goldberg
Head G&E
University of California, Irvine
Voice: (949) 824-6831
sgoldber@uci.edu
I wish to express my deep sympathy to Steve's parents and family. Steve was very helpful and kind to me when I was a Library intern and as a staff member at the University of California, Irvine.
I first got to know Steve Wooldridge through Internet Relay Chat. We would chat about all kinds of things not related to our occupations. Over time we realized that we were both librarians. It came as a big shock to discover several months after first chatting with him that he was the technical side of CRISTAL-ED. But it only added to several interests that we shared.
Steve loved to thoroughly immerse himself in an interest. I remember being surprised to discover how much he knew about the inner workings of the institution and the staff of where I work, The New York Public Library, even though he had never visited here. I'll never be sure how he came to know so many personal details about the staff here... ;)
He often told me of his interest in informatics and how it related to his work at the University of Michigan. To him it was like the workings of a human body -- that so many different facets were all interconnected and interrelated. We would be talking about this stuff (on IRC) for hours, up through the early hours of a Sunday morning.
I will miss him as a personal friend, and I'm sure we're all the poorer for his loss.
You may join the discussion and look over the list of past and future topics.
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