The NYU German department recently held a reception for Friedrich Ulfers to recognize his fifty years of teaching. (He didn't have a Ph.D. until 1968 when they gave him one to class up the faculty list -- he just taught and mentored, though he's published some important works in the past decade.) Many people spoke, praising Fred's range of interests and influence far and wide. Then Avital Ronell, former head of the department and star literary theorist, spoke from Israel via the Internet, calling Ulfers "one of her three Freds," the others being Nietzsche and Astair -- at which point she played the entire five-minute clip. Fred Ulfers said that was a hard act to follow -- but he did. Great guy. Gave a glimpse of an NYU before it became a real estate power.
And he was Episcopalian!
ReplyDeleteWas he now? Good to know.
ReplyDeleteActually I prefer the Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle version myself.
ReplyDeleteMy thought exactly, BarbieAnn!
DeleteBarbieAnn, I just watched the video of Wilder and Boyle again, and they're funnier, that's for sure. Still, Fred is still the master in my book. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe NYU German department recently held a reception for Friedrich Ulfers to recognize his fifty years of teaching. (He didn't have a Ph.D. until 1968 when they gave him one to class up the faculty list -- he just taught and mentored, though he's published some important works in the past decade.) Many people spoke, praising Fred's range of interests and influence far and wide. Then Avital Ronell, former head of the department and star literary theorist, spoke from Israel via the Internet, calling Ulfers "one of her three Freds," the others being Nietzsche and Astair -- at which point she played the entire five-minute clip. Fred Ulfers said that was a hard act to follow -- but he did. Great guy. Gave a glimpse of an NYU before it became a real estate power.
ReplyDeleteFred had style in every way!
ReplyDeleteMurdoch, thanks for the wonderful story about one of the other Freds.
ReplyDeleteCiss B, yes. I've long thought Astaire's talent as a song stylist was greatly underrated.
This is my favorite Fred. . .
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one. Fred dances amazingly well for a man who has had a few too many. :-)
ReplyDelete