On behalf of my wife, Heather, and I, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the Wardrip family. Dr. Wardrip was my Honors College Thesis Advisor - but that's just the official relationship we had.

First and foremost he was a mentor and a friend. I've only counted three people in my life beyond my parents as mentors and Dr. Wardrip was one of those people. He was a kind and gentle man who inspired his students through humor and a credible real-life outlook on the world. Even on my slowest days - when the thought of going to class was unbearable - Dr. Wardrip had a way of making me smile and enjoy the time I would spend in his class.

His daughter, Sarah, became a friend of mine as well throughout college and sharing personal connections with both of them added a family atmosphere to my days in the J-School that otherwise would not have been there.

I want his family to know that even among students who never maintained contact with Dr. Wardrip after college, he was very well liked and well respected. I know my fellow alumni join me in saying that Dr. Wardrip will truly be missed, and he will always be remembered.

Sally and I have cried a bucket of tears today--we love the Wardrips! All day, wonderful memories have come to mind and I have been sad because there won't be new events to remember (with Jon but many more are anticipated with Dottie).

Jon and Dottie became dear friends soon after they moved to Columbia in the mid-1980s. We've tailgated together and socialized on many other occasions, often with Ginny and John Lopiccolo, Carol and Rick Dent. Jon so loved Dottie and the children (Sarah and Matt) — praise the Lord they were with him for several days and to the end in the hospital on Thursday evening when he died.

Last February, Jon asked me to write a letter in support of his nomination for induction in the Washington Park High School Hall of Fame (Racine, WI). In that letter I shared with the school's principal why Jon deserved this recognition. He received that recognition and made it to the banquet/ceremony in July. Read Rick's touching letter>>

Dear Jon, I hope you realized how beloved you were among the students and your colleagues. I cherished our times together, our lengthy discussions about the state of journalism education and what we could do to broaden the horizons of our students. I will miss your good humor and forever remember the many events we shared with you and Dottie. I loved and respected you as an educator, father and husband and your devotion to our university and to higher education.

When I started teaching at USC as an adjunct professor and professional advisor to the Bateman team, Jon was one of the first faculty members to make me feel welcome.  I always enjoyed talking with him in the halls and will miss his good humor, input and guidance.

I know many of the students who spoke highly of him appreciated some of the same things I did;  his pursuit of excellence and quality of experience.

He did a great job as our internship coordinator and was a great encourager to student and faculty alike.  He will be missed.

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