Every few weeks or so, the ABC Family cable television network features a “Very Special Harry Potter Weekend.”  Over the course of three or four days, the network airs Harry Potter movies and–once kids have gone to bed–infomercials.  I happened to have the television on in the background this afternoon as I sorted through packets of photos from my semester in England nearly a decade ago.

I had planned on doing this for some time, since I’m taking a group of Academy students to Harlaxton this summer for an English 200 class.  With a busy week ahead, I probably would have waited further to do that except for an unfortunate email I received last evening.  It contained word that Dr. Patricia Taylor had passed away earlier that day after complications from a heart attack.

In front of the doors to the cathedral in Bath, England.

As I thumbed through photos that had sat in a box in the garage for the last three years untouched, a notable scene played out in the third Potter installment in the background.  In the scene, Professor Lupin teaches Harry how to cast a patronus charm.  For those uninformed in Potter lore, a Patronus is an entity primarily used to protect against malicious creatures called Dementors.  These hooded, death-like figures feed off fear and negative emotion while sucking away all happiness.  The only way to protect oneself again them is through a patronus: a substantial happy thought or memory made corporeal.  In life, we draw strength from those memories in times of struggle, grief, and need.

I practically “majored in Pat Taylor” as an undergrad at WKU.  Having spent twenty-seven academic credits under her instruction, I must say that she is one of a handful of educators at the collegiate level who were critical in my academic and personal growth over the last decade.  (As an aside, I would have had enough credits to major in Pat had I taken her Drama Writing course.  I will settle for a minor, though.)

Perhaps my favorite photo, which features Pat in her traveling cloak. Picture taken in the Lake District.

The scene in the movie struck me as particularly poignant.  In the way that Lupin invests in Harry as friend, protector, and mentor, so did Pat pour herself fully into the lives and education of her students. Pat may not have appreciated my literary connections to Harry Potter in this piece.  Her passion for classical literature, high drama, and the stage casts Rowling’s novels in a particularly pedestrian light.  (As an unabashed Anglophile, though, I think she would pardon my use.)

The margins of my classroom notes for Pat’s classes are scrawled with quotably-quotable phrases.  In addition to the texts addressed in class, we were regaled with tales of her decision to wear pants as a female faculty member (deemed an unacceptable act by her colleagues and superiors at the time).  I debated with a friend for the longest time if her fiery red hair was dyed or a wig–my mom was the first to assure me it was a wig.  The drama on the page was always supplemented with its own share of richly painted and refined-over-the-course-of-semesters narratives.  The lectern of a professor is a stage in its own right; Pat made good use of it in fifty-five minute installments three times a week, fifteen weeks per semester for years.

From a Halloween party at the Taylor's flat in Cambridge. That's Craig under the wolf mask.

As previously noted, I spent the 2002 fall semester studying in Cambridge, England with Pat and her husband Craig.  The trip was only my second global experience.  At its foundation was the study of nineteenth century English novels, Irish drama, modern British Drama, writing, and other subjects; however, the act of a study abroad is equally about the non-academic experiential learning opportunities that occur outside of the classroom.  I took risks, enjoyed the culture, and–most of all–made new, lifelong friends.  Among those is Catherine Altmaier, who has also written a fine essay in honor of Pat’s life.  I owe those friendships and memories to Pat.

As so many have remarked today, Pat was the kind of person who you imagined woud live forever.  The possibility that her verve and smile would be anything less than omnipresent in Cherry Hall was–and remains–somewhat impossible to accept.  The sudden and unexpected loss only further underscores its improbability.  However, I take comfort in the fact that she was an educator to the very end–a fact in which I’m sure she would take a great amount of pride.  I draw strength today, having learned the roles, obligations, and power that can come from a person who fully embraces their role as educator and mentor.

The beauty in it all is that, unlike Harry Potter, hers is very much a real story.

Update 03/22/11: Pat’s husband Craig is establishing a student scholarship in her name.  If you are interested in giving to this scholarship–designed for literature students–you can learn more by contacting Laurie Basham at 270-745-5082 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 270-745-5082 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.  Donations may also be sent to the following address:

Patricia Minton Taylor Memorial Scholarship for English Literature Students
College Heights Foundation
WKU
1906 College Heights  Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY. 42101

Update 03/22/11: The visitation for Patricia Minton Taylor (Pat), followed by a memorial service, will be held at Hardy & Son Funeral Homes, 3098 Louisville Road, Bowling Green, KY (270) 842-3230 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (270) 842-3230 end_of_the_skype_highlightin, this Sunday, March 27, from 1-4PM. This would have been Pat’s birthday, so it is fitting that on that day we celebrate her extraordinary life.

Pat and Craig hit the dance floor with their usual style and class.

Update 03/22/11: Rebecca Butorac posted some photos from her wedding of Pat and Craig.  Craig was the officiant for the ceremony.  Becca and Zac were also on the study abroad in Cambridge in fall 2002.  I was interviewed for a story in today’s College Heights Herald about Pat.  When the reporter asked me my favorite memory of Pat, the photo at left was what instantly came to mind.

Photo from a performance at the Public Theater of Kentucky.

Update 03/23/11: Public Theater of Kentucky (Facebook Page link) have posted a wonderful album of photos of Pat at her finest: when she was on the stage.  ”First Lady of the Theatre” is a highly-fitting title for the album.  Visitors to this page will certainly enjoy the memories.  One of my favorite Pat Taylor memories (and probably my most embarrassing one, too!) came after seeing her in a performance of Twelfth Night.