St. Thomas English professor Michael Jordan’s memorial service was held Friday, Feb. 5 at The House of Hope Presbyterian Church. Jordan passed away Jan. 24 from pancreatic cancer. A large crowd, including many St. Thomas professors, attended the service.
Jordan came to St. Thomas in 1982 and held several positions, including director of Humanities and Fine Arts, director of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, chair of the English and history departments and the CORE Curriculum Task Force. His most recent position was associate vice provost of Undergraduate Studies from 2005-2015. He was on sabbatical this spring and had plans to return to St. Thomas to teach English in the fall.
Jordan had a strong commitment to a liberal arts education. He worked to develop the CORE curriculum as it is today. Amy Muse, chair of the English department, said this was his legacy.
“He worked so hard for a really rich curriculum that was intellectual, spiritual and ethical. That is the legacy that he intended to leave,” Muse said. “I would hate to see that dismantled and see St. Thomas move to a different kind of university that wasn’t deeply committed to those values.”
Jordan’s institutional history and love for St. Thomas led him to become a mentor and role model for many faculty members. Current Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Studies Wendy Wyatt fondly remembers him as the quintessential professor.
“He had a genuine care for students, St. Thomas, his colleagues and the idea of higher education. His heart was just all in for all of those things,” Wyatt said. “He understood everything about this place. He was a champion for St. Thomas and for what we do here.”
Friends, family and colleagues spoke at the service and in the weeks following Jordan’s death about his gentle and kind personality. He and his wife Brenda Powell, who was also an English professor at St. Thomas, had a very influential presence on campus. Muse said watching Jordan and Powell’s marriage over the years was truly wonderful because of their intellectual partnership that is not often seen.
“Brenda would always walk [to school] and Michael would drive and bring her book bag to put it in her office so that she did not have to carry it. You could see them strolling on Summit Avenue, holding hands and intensely talking about literature,” Muse said. “The richness of their life is what so many people want for themselves, but also it makes us realize the great loss to Brenda and their daughters because of that intimacy they all shared.”
English professor Jeannie Hofmeister experienced Jordan’s guidance as a mentor and friend. She said the best way to pay homage to him is by expressing her love through teaching.
“I will always remember Michael as one of the most humble, erudite and patient men I have ever known. While it is difficult to imagine being on campus without him, I know that the best way to honor Michael is to continue to walk into the classroom and share my love of literature with my students,” Hofmeister said.
Jordan also had a great love for music, particularly orchestra and opera, and a deep passion for his faith. The memorial service included several of Jordan’s favorite songs and scripture passages. Two of Jordan’s siblings, his spiritual director and St. Thomas Professor Emerita of English Joan Piorkowski gave remembrances. Attendees could contribute to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra following the service.
Claire Noack can be reached at noac8702@stthomas.edu.