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Ira Zepp: Words We Will Remember Him By ANGELA BALDWIN Copy Editor Verses from rhe Blble. The Lord's Prayer. The Qur'an - in both English and Arabic. The rousing sound of an African-Ameri- can spirirual. And a Muscogee Creek Ble~sing played on a flute. All nf rhese diverse cultural and religious elements marked [he Memorial Service of Ira G. Zepp. Professor Emeritus ofReJigious Stud- ies, which took place in Big Baker on August 29. The service was a cdebrarion of Zepp's Hfe-, a life which many speakers and arrendees noted was packed to the brim wirh family, friends, former students and former colleagues. "He wove threads of compassion and in- tegrity into our lives," said former student Charles Moore in his memorial speech. President Joan Develin Coley told [he crowd that fllled every inch of spece in rhe cha- pel that Zepp was also an influence on her life. She joked that she keeps Ira in her rep drawer in the form of mementos, ernailed advice, and words of inspiration rhar be shared with her. Ira'sdaughter,JodyZepp, remembered her fathera5 being an advocate. Pam Zappardino said in her speech, Ira "lived and breathed non- violence." David Carrasco talked about how Ira loved the word "liberation," and how he made a commitmenr ro it. Carrasco alse pointed OUt how Ira often used words such as "love," and "grace." in his vocabulary. Even studenrs who might no, have known ira Zepp can hear his lessons, his advice, through the words others remember him by as well as the words he lef behind in his novels andotherwrinenworks. Even rhough Ira has passed away, his teach- ings snll impact all of those who knew him. Mahlia Joyce, Acting Director in rhe Of- r;.~~..:,:.:!\:;::::\ty ..."d Muhicultuml Affairs, Can d "In many ways, I credit Ira's teadllngs, wls- om, cncouragemeee, questions and commir- menr ro ,ustiee, with shaping me to become ;:~dd.yto take 011 my current pOsition," Joyce . "I learned from ira the imporrance of being both. educator and Student and to n