TRIBUTE TO DEBORAH "MISTY" GERNER

J. Ann Tickner
President, International Studies Association
September 17, 2006

I come here today on behalf of the International Studies Association to which Misty gave so much in terms of her service to the profession of International Relations. I come also as a fellow Quaker, who deeply admired Misty's example as a person whose life's work was inspired by her Quaker principles. Most importantly, I come as a friend who was touched, as so many of us were, by Misty's deep concern for others both near and far - even during her own difficult illness. I bring condolences and good wishes from the ISA, and most especially from its Executive Director Tom Volgy who regrets he cannot be here today, to Misty's family, colleagues, students, and friends. And a special word to Phil whose loss is so great and whose devotion to and care for Misty during her illness was immeasurable.

I first met Misty when she was co-program chair for the 1995 annual meeting of the ISA. This is an extremely demanding job - challenging even for the strong and healthy. Misty was in her first round of chemotherapy during the meeting and I will never forget her cheerfulness and determination to carry on in spite of the effects of her debilitating treatment. Misty continued to give generous service to the ISA for the next eleven years, in many capacities too long to list here, and served as its Treasurer over the last four years - right up until the time of her death. In recognition of her extraordinary level of service, Misty was the first recipient of two awards for outstanding service created recently by the ISA. One of them was awarded by the Women's Caucus whose chair, Vikki Golich is here today -- Misty always had a special concern for supporting women in the profession.

We Quakers talk a great deal about putting our faith into practice. Quakers have developed a set of queries to assist us in considering the true source of spiritual strength, and the extent to which our daily lives give witness to our Christian faith. Our query on peace and reconciliation reads: "Do you strive to increase understanding and use non-violent methods of resolving conflicts?" Misty's writings and teaching about the Middle East, focusing especially on courageously searching for peaceful solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - the most intractable of conflicts - are a true measure of her commitment to putting her faith into practice. Misty exemplified the best of a scholar activist. In these troubled times, marked by conflict, misperceptions, and misunderstanding about people not like ourselves, and deep social and economic injustices, we in international relations, need more colleagues like Misty who are not afraid to bring their moral and ethical principles to their scholarship and to their teaching. It is a model that takes courage, energy and compassion.

One of the final email messages that Misty wrote to her friends on the Misty email list, on which she documented her illness with courage, honesty and even humor, was written in early April after severe pain had forced her to leave the ISA annual meeting earlier than expected. Before telling us that "things had not been much fun of late", Misty began her message, as she always did, trying to come up with some good news to share. She began thus, "Let's see ... the weather yesterday was beautiful: warm with blue skies and big puffy clouds, various grasses beginning to turn green, the clover a bright purple. I have some beautiful flowers in the house, including daffodils from our fields and some bouquets that were sent to me."

Quaker Faith and Practice advises that, while there will be especial sorrow at memorials for Friends taken from us early in life, there will often be thoughts of great thankfulness. I want to thank you Misty for being such a supportive friend when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. You sent me flowers even though I hardly knew you at the time. You gave me a lot of advice about how to see the good news during difficult times. And I want to thank you on behalf of colleagues in the ISA for being such an inspiration to all of us. Whether our work is motivated by religious or secular principles, you showed us the true meaning of committed, compassionate and responsible teaching, service, and scholarship.