The Daily OrangeOne last lecture
After 45 years teaching introductory biology, professor Marvin Druger finishes off his time at SU
By Melissa Daniels
Posted: 4/28/08, 11:03 PM EST Section: News
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Gifford was about half full, with students in Druger's BIO 123 lecture chattering. The professor paced in front, looking relaxed.
"Today I'll be teaching my last lecture of Biology 123," he said. "I was going to have an inspirational message - but first we're going to go over the circulatory system then do that at the end."
The 74-year-old is relaxed, of course. He's been doing this for 54 years.
Druger, the Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence and chair of the department of science teaching at Syracuse University, will be on research leave next year to work with 12 Ph.D. students. He doesn't know if he'll be back.
He gave two BIO 123 lectures Monday - maybe his last. He's been at Syracuse for 45 years, through five chancellors - from William Tolley to Nancy Cantor. Druger has taught more than 40,000 students since he came to SU in 1962, with a graduate degree from Columbia University.
And he's not sure what comes next.
"What are you going to do now?" one student asked after the lecture.
"Follow my wife around," Druger said, a hint of Brooklyn sneaking in the end of his joke.
Why not? They've been married 51 years. Druger met Pat back home in Brooklyn, when his college fraternity threw a party for a local high school sorority. He was 20, she was 15. They married three years later.
He still carries a copy of a poem he wrote to her on their 50th anniversary, along with a few others he's penned over the years.
Pat inspired some of her husband's soon-to-be-published book "The Misadventures of Marvin (including his wife Pat): Lessons in Life." The book is a series of vignettes: little things he's learned during his 74 years.
One scene stands out - he was in the airport with his wife, and someone asked him if he was Hugh Hefner.
"I said, 'If I was Hugh Hefner, would I be sitting next to this old gray-haired lady?'" he laughed as he told the story.
Druger wrote a book of children's poems once too, "Strange Creatures and Other Poems." He's working on a sequel: "Stranger Creatures and Other Poems."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 10
Crista
posted 4/29/08 @ 9:16 AM EST
Thank you for your many years of service, Dr. Druger, both to SU and to humanity in general. It's been a pleasure listening to you, your wisdom, and the insights you share through your captivating stories. (Continued…)
Melanie Stopyra
posted 4/29/08 @ 10:28 AM EST
Marvin,
You have been a jewel of Syracuse University for many years. Any student who has had the opportunity to have you as their professor was truly fortunate. (Continued…)
Ed Brooks
posted 4/29/08 @ 10:53 AM EST
I took Professor Druger's BIO 121-123 class in 1984-1985. His dedication to SU is unmatched, and he is also a great professor. I remember his class well, and you do learn more that just biology. (Continued…)
Paul Schwarz '86
posted 4/29/08 @ 11:47 AM EST
My high school classmates at Chittenango in 1981-82 were among the first to take BIO 121-123 as part of the Project Advance program. This was one of the early examples of the dual-enrollment phenomenon we see today (as for me, I waited until I was actually at SU to take the classes). (Continued…)
Dr. Thomas C. Altman
posted 4/29/08 @ 1:05 PM EST
I have had the joy of working with Dr. Druger for many years and am constantly inspired by his enthusiasm joy in learning and teaching. He has been an example for me professionally and personally. (Continued…)
Sari Signorelli
posted 4/29/08 @ 3:32 PM EST
Marvin's love of teaching has inspired hundreds of teachers and thousands of students through his years of bringing SU's intro biology courses to the high schools through Project Advance. (Continued…)
Matthew Crowley
posted 4/29/08 @ 6:56 PM EST
Dr. Druger:
Thanks for your many years of service. You were on leave the year I took your course in 1985-86, but I still remember your audiotapes and the musical interludes all these years later, particularly "At the Zoo" by Simon & Garfunkel and the song about the ulas - as in cellular respiration" One song line said " . (Continued…)
don't fear the predator
posted 4/30/08 @ 2:18 AM EST
He was 20, she was 15. They married three years later
I knew staring at photos of Mylie Cyrus was fine...WA-HOO
Sara '00
posted 4/30/08 @ 5:37 PM EST
I took BIO 121-123 in 1996-1997 and still have many fond memories of his class. I have never seen a teacher or professor more dedicated to his class as Dr. (Continued…)
Jane (Hasselback) Sullivan
posted 5/01/08 @ 10:48 AM EST
Dr. Druger:
I try to model my teaching methods from the example you set for me so many years ago. You taught the very first college course I ever took. (Continued…)
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