By Bob Holmes
As five male students locked arms in a semi-circle and menacingly in the face of Dr. David Olshine, he reminded them that despite being one of the honored guests at the retirement reception, he’ll still be around teaching part time. But that didn’t stop them from teasing their beloved Youth Ministry professor who has served at CIU for 33 years.
“I like how he has nicknames for all of his students,” said one among the group. “It shows his intentionality and care for the students. He gives everyone a nickname when they walk into the classroom. Once he learns your (real) name he has a nickname for you.”
Such as?
One student said his nickname is “Mulletman.” Another “A.J.” A third with a whiskered face said his nickname is “Beard.”
Olshine took the teasing as a great compliment.
“It’s very encouraging. It makes me feel honored and loved and affirmed,” Olshine said. “I’m here for (the students). That’s my mission.”
Olshine was joined at the reception by two other retiring professors; Dr. Rod Lewis and Dr. Ken Rife as they were honored by students, faculty and staff who came to say goodbye to the professors whose combined service to CIU equals 88 years.
The Music Man
Lewis, who has served as a music professor and more recently as director of the music program, has been with CIU 36 years and was asked about his fondest memories.
“People. There have been so many magnificent people,” Lewis said. “I’ve been formed by people here (and) by chapel sermons — (remembering) where I was sitting and what was said — things that really changed the trajectory of my life.”
And an accomplished musician never stops being a musician in retirement.
“I plan to do a lot of making music and writing music,” Lewis said. “I’ll write some prose and poetry too, I hope. But I’m going to make a lot of music.”
The Video Producer
Dr. Ken Rife, director of Communication programs, will keep busy with CIU-related video production in retirement. He has already been the producer and director of the documentary film “A Promised Kept,” the story of CIU’s third President Robertson McQuilkin who cared for his wife Muriel as she struggled with Alzheimer’s disease. Now, Rife is ready to premier “The Chet Bitterman Story.” Bitterman, a 1974 CIU alumnus and Wycliffe Bible translator, was kidnapped and later executed by terrorists in Colombia, South America in 1981.
Rife has mixed feelings about retiring after 19 years at CIU.
“I’ve got so many friends here, it’s just hard to leave this community — it has been almost a sense of protection here with God’s blessing on the University. I’m going to miss that aspect of it.”
(Above: Dr. Rod Lewis chats with students at the retirement reception. Photo by Jonathan McGaha.)
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