Some types of sadness lessen in time, while some submerge, then come back full-strength. Today is three years since Steve Cass passed away. I still miss him terribly – he was so cheerful that he pulled people along with his happy magic. For Steve, every morning was a fresh start, a new chance for good things to happen. The motto he taught students was ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ which aptly sums up his philosophy: there is always hope, always a way forward. His joie de vivre was a much-needed tonic for me and many others.
Yet with all his positivity he didn’t ignore, overlook or accept corrupt behavior. He was a gentleman, but also a warrior for better teaching and he continually fought on behalf of our students. His insistence on speaking truth to power gave a jolt of honesty for those who only heard a chorus of approval for their policies, regardless of those policies’ effectiveness or usefulness.
Now that I have moved back to the States, I often wish I could talk over with him all of my culture shock and how much I miss Oman. I know he would have exactly the right words to make this transition easier. He made life brighter for everyone he met.
Steve Cass, teacher and friend
Come From Away 
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