Duane Addison died this week at the age of 88. In the 1970’s and 80’s, he was a member of the Religion department at Augustana. He taught the introductory Religion course, a course on the Prophets and World Religions. When I first came to Augustana he was a kind, helpful and welcoming presence.
Duane was a passionate supporter of social justice issues. He cared and felt deeply about those who had been oppressed. In his classes social justice always played a prominent role. He was known for being moved to tears in class whenever he felt touched by what he was teaching. Some students were uncomfortable with Duane’s prominent display of emotion. But he was who he was, a “tender soul” who cared deeply about those who were in pain.
For some years my family lived next door to him in Sioux Falls. We had some fine conversations, would periodically help each other clean the gutters in our respective houses and shoveled each other’s driveways when it snowed. I officiated at his marriage to his bride Eva. The talk was entitled “Back to the tent,” and dealt with the biblical Isaac meeting Rebecca for the first time.
Duane Addison was not without the usual human flaws, but he was a good man, a mensch. His was a life lived in the service of social justice and I am remembering him.
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