“I taught in large part because of Ted Lowi’s influence on my life”

I arrived at Cornell in September of 1959, at age 16.  After the first Prelim in Professor Rossiter’s Government 101 course (Ted, in his first semester at Cornell, was Rossiter’s chief assistant), I was informed that I had been admitted to the Honor’s section. But I was also working with the Freshman football team, which had a game in Buffalo the day after the first meeting of the Honor’s section. I could not possibly make that first class!

With great trepidation, I knocked on the door of Ted’s office to tell him I could not attend the meeting. I was sure that I would be drummed out of the class unceremoniously. Three quarters of an hour later, I emerged from Ted’s office. We had exchanged life stories. Ted showed me great warmth, kindness and understanding and so our friendship began. That friendship lasted for a lifetime.

The members of that freshman class who majored in Government stayed very close to Ted. One of the great highlights of our collective relationship came when we gave him a “stag Party” before his marriage to the wonderful Angèle.

I taught Political Science for 40 years in large part because of Ted Lowi’s influence on my life.

Charles F. Levine

College of Arts and Science

Cornell Class of 1963