2008 Woodie Awards
Speech professor of 39 years remembered for dedication
Scholarship will continue her service to students
By Regis L. Roberts
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
Originally published: 5/16/08 at 7:46 PM CSTLast update: 5/16/08 at 9:20 PM CST
She loved chocolate, her students, this college and talking about current events.
Dr. Barbara Strain, a speech professor here for 39 years who died May 3 at the age of 70, was remembered in a May 9 memorial service by her older brother, Dr. Bryant Strain, and Professor John Skinner, a colleague from the theater and speech communication department.
Friends, family and members of "her SAC family" nearly filled the dimly lit, 176-seat McCreless Theater to hear remembrances and music performed by music Professors Terry Muska on classical guitar and Madalyn Blanchett on flute.
David Mrizek, vice president of college services, led the singing of "Amazing Grace."
Bryant Strain recited Psalm 23 and Skinner, voice quivering and sniffling between sentences, read an excerpt from Truman Capote's short story "A Christmas Memory." "Home is where my friend is, and there I never go."
Barbara Strain was a native of Alabama where she attended Birmingham Southern College. She received a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.
She was recovering from a hip replacement Feb. 28 in Houston, and Skinner said she was quickly back to teaching and being her old self.
She sang the opening song for the school's recent production of "Beauty and the Beast" live for every performance, he said. She could have recorded it, he said, but she stood backstage at the start of every show and sang.
Skinner said one had to be up to date in current events to have a conversation with her.
"'Did you hear Jeremiah Wright at the National Press Club?'" he remembered her asking recently, referring to Democratic candidate Barack Obama's minister.
Skinner last saw her May 2 when he said goodbye before leaving for the day. She was in her office calculating grades.
She loved this college and was always open to students' needs, Bryant Strain said.
He said their mother was a teacher, and his sister thought it was a noble profession. "She was the consummate teacher, professor, wearing the title Dr. Strain."
As a speech professor, she did not give people a break on presentations, even her brother Bryant, a retired Baptist minister of 45 years.
He said he always welcomed and encouraged people to attend church, but joked that he was always nervous about the way she would critique him on his use of language, persuasive ability and presentation.
Memorial gifts to the Dr. Barbara Strain Scholarship fund are requested in lieu of flowers.
Donations can be sent to Dr. Barbara Strain Scholarship Fund, Theater and Speech Communication Department, San Antonio College, ACCD Office of Institutional Advancement, 201 W. Sheridan, Suite C-3, San Antonio, TX 78204-1429.
Dr. Barbara Strain, a speech professor here for 39 years who died May 3 at the age of 70, was remembered in a May 9 memorial service by her older brother, Dr. Bryant Strain, and Professor John Skinner, a colleague from the theater and speech communication department.
Friends, family and members of "her SAC family" nearly filled the dimly lit, 176-seat McCreless Theater to hear remembrances and music performed by music Professors Terry Muska on classical guitar and Madalyn Blanchett on flute.
David Mrizek, vice president of college services, led the singing of "Amazing Grace."
Bryant Strain recited Psalm 23 and Skinner, voice quivering and sniffling between sentences, read an excerpt from Truman Capote's short story "A Christmas Memory." "Home is where my friend is, and there I never go."
Barbara Strain was a native of Alabama where she attended Birmingham Southern College. She received a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.
She was recovering from a hip replacement Feb. 28 in Houston, and Skinner said she was quickly back to teaching and being her old self.
She sang the opening song for the school's recent production of "Beauty and the Beast" live for every performance, he said. She could have recorded it, he said, but she stood backstage at the start of every show and sang.
Skinner said one had to be up to date in current events to have a conversation with her.
"'Did you hear Jeremiah Wright at the National Press Club?'" he remembered her asking recently, referring to Democratic candidate Barack Obama's minister.
Skinner last saw her May 2 when he said goodbye before leaving for the day. She was in her office calculating grades.
She loved this college and was always open to students' needs, Bryant Strain said.
He said their mother was a teacher, and his sister thought it was a noble profession. "She was the consummate teacher, professor, wearing the title Dr. Strain."
As a speech professor, she did not give people a break on presentations, even her brother Bryant, a retired Baptist minister of 45 years.
He said he always welcomed and encouraged people to attend church, but joked that he was always nervous about the way she would critique him on his use of language, persuasive ability and presentation.
Memorial gifts to the Dr. Barbara Strain Scholarship fund are requested in lieu of flowers.
Donations can be sent to Dr. Barbara Strain Scholarship Fund, Theater and Speech Communication Department, San Antonio College, ACCD Office of Institutional Advancement, 201 W. Sheridan, Suite C-3, San Antonio, TX 78204-1429.
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