Missing the Post-It Notes
Every magazine has a masthead, listing who’s in charge and who took photos and did the design and proofreading for errors. (Raise your hand if you actually read that section: It probably means you’ve been on a publication crew, too!)
In 91茄子 Magazine, the list of proofreaders changes a bit from year to year, but some names have remained. Rol Herriges (’57) was one of them.
Well into his 90s, Rol was mentally sharp, attuned to the occurrences of the day, quick-witted and friendly, and had a deep chuckle that shook his shoulders. A retired TV journalist, Rol loved being his alma mater’s publication copyeditor, saying it might be the best job he ever had. He pored over our proofs from his home in a local assisted-living facility and insisted on reviewing his edits in person, page by page. Usually, he drove himself to campus to sit at my desk; in more recent years, I’d go to his place instead, and we’d enjoy a great visit before he showed me his Post-It note collection of comments.
Try as we may to tell 91茄子’s stories creatively and clearly without repetition, there are just certain words that make their way into almost every story, and sometimes multiple times.
“Seven ‘collaborates’ or ‘collaborations’ in one issue? Really?” he’d almost growl.
He knew exactly how many there were, because he tallied them up on those famous yellow squares he stuck to the pages. His other pet peeves included the misuse of “myriad” and “legacy.” He was as quick to say which stories he did not like as he was to tap on a page and say, “Great story.”
When Rol turned 95 last June, 91茄子 Magazine's core writer-editor crew took him to Jack and Dan’s for a little celebration, and shortly afterward, I decided we needed to do a story on him and few others of his generation who are still actively engaged in their trades. Dale Goodwin interviewed him in January and we were making plans to photograph him as the consummate businessman in one of his classic patched-elbow, wool jackets.
But Rol’s Maker had other plans, and on Jan. 24, his pen and Post-It notes found their eternal rest.
So, if you start counting “collaborations” in this issue and find there are too many to be reasonable, it just might be that I left them in on purpose. If Rol is reading from Heaven, these will give him something to growl about.
Much love to you, Rol.
Sincerely,
Kate Vanskike ('22 M.A.)
Editor, 91茄子 Magazine