Harry R. Faulk Memorial

He is warmly remembered and deeply missed!

2009-10-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

Harry Faulk had a personal and warm way of making you feel like a very special human being. He was personally interested in each individual student and he had the patience to listen attentively to your concerns. He was the "Heinz School" and he was one of the reasons I was able to be so successful during my tenure as a graduate student. He is warmly remembered and deeply missed! I don't think anyone can take his place...

Posted on behalf of
Linda Cawthon Griffin

Harry's amazing dedication and love for the MPM students

2009-10-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

Harry Faulk took customer (the student) satisfaction to new heights! He not only made time for all MPM students’ questions, he made everyone feel welcome. One day in the early 1990s, as an MPM student, I stopped by Harry’s office to ask him a question. He answered my question then apologized for not having more time to talk. He explained that he was in a hurry to get to the airport to meet some new Heinz students arriving from Oman. Apparently the look on my face was one of surprise that he was planning to be their “chauffeur,” because he immediately responded, “I can’t let them arrive in Pittsburgh alone. Someone needs to be at the airport to welcome them!” I already held Harry in high regard, but I left his office that day totally overwhelmed by his amazing dedication and love for the MPM students. To say that he will be missed is an understatement.

Posted on behalf of
Deborah Kelly
’94 Heinz (MPM)

Well-known for kindness, generosity and intense devotion

2009-10-14T12:47:00.000-07:00

During my study at MPM of the Heinz School from 1994-1995 in Pittsburgh, I was feeling that Dr. Harry has been well-known for kindness, generosity and intense devotion for our students. I still remembered Dr. Harry and his wife, Annabelle to pay a visit in Beijing, Shanghai and Xian of China, we got real good party with my wife and my daughter.

If possible, please pass my condolences for Harry's wife as well as all family member, I hope that I can visit Pittsburgh again to express my real feeling for Harry's wife face by face in the future.

Posted on behalf of Prof. Haoming Huang (MPM ’95)
Vice Chairman & Executive Director
China Association for NGO Cooperation
Beijing. China

Such a beautiful soul

2009-10-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

I felt like a member of my family was gone with the sad news of Dr. Faulk's passing, but I also feel lucky because Dr. Faulk helped me in different occasions. He was always ready to assist us, such a beautiful soul. So many beautiful things I can say about him. His family must be so proud of him.

We'll miss him.

Posted on behalf of Sonia A. Guerra (MPM ’01)

As an immigrant from Nigeria, Dr. Faulk made my education possible.

2009-10-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

Harry Faulk lived a good life and touched not just me but several others. I will forever be grateful to Dr. Harry Faulk for making my U.S. studies possible. As an immigrant from Nigeria with no money for tuition, I thought my pursuit of further education would not be possible until I met Dr. Harry Faulk. He specifically told me I could do it so long as I had it as a goal. He gave me the much needed scholarship to start and finish my MPM program and continually encouraged me until I graduated. Again, I will forever be grateful to Dr. Harry Faulk. I pray that his gentle soul rests in peace. May the good LORD bless and keep his wife, children and grandchildren, AMEN.

Posted on behalf of Florence Ofili (MPM ’97)
Senior Examiner
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Washington, D.C.

Here I am, serving, thanks to Harry.

2009-10-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

I was curious about the Educational Technology Management program and Harry was my point of contact at Heinz. After meeting with him, I decided to apply to the MSETM program. I was inspired by seeing the connection between the educator and the public policy voice. So, here I am, degree in hand, serving as a School Board member in Upper St Clair, Pennsylvania.

Thank you Harry.

Posted on behalf of Becky Stern (METM ’05)
Upper St. Clair School Board
Upper St. Clair, PA

He loved what he did, and we loved him.

2009-10-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

Harry was a remarkable man, and his assistance and belief in me have been instrumental in my success. When an illness and loss of job necessitated me moving away when I was two thirds finished with my Masters, Harry kept in contact and helped me identify a few courses I could take in Chicago and then helped me complete my Master's at CMU online.

He loved what he did and those of us touched by him loved him.

Posted on behalf of Michele Dionne (MPM ’03)
Regional President and Chief Executive Officer
Triumph Healthcare South Region
Richmond, TX

Opportunity and a key chain

2009-10-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

When you look back on your life, there is always that one person that you always remember as having touched your life in a unique way and Harry was one of those people.

I will never forget meeting with Harry prior to attending the MPM program in the early 90's. He gave me the opportunity to attend CMU's MPM program and I was so glad he did. I did not have outstanding undergraduate credentials but he gave me a shot. Ironically, I graduated with "highest distinction" and literally enjoyed every minute of my time there.

One day around 1993, Harry gave me a CMU/Heinz School key chain made out of a metal, sort of had a gold appearance to it if you know what I mean. When he gave it to me he told me "it will never wear out" and then he chuckled. Today I still use that key chain, and I can still see him giving me that key chain in his office that day. And you know what? He was right......... it never wore out.

Every time I think of CMU I think of Harry and his calm demeanor and professionalism. Please let his family know that I was very honored to know him. What a guy!

Posted on behalf of Dennis DeCola (MPM ’94)
Regional Manager
Dayco Products, LLC
Butler, PA

Harry made me feel as if I belonged.

2009-10-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

To The Family of Harry Faulk,

Harry was such a very special person! He was so welcoming, thoughtful, patient and always deeply interested in the success of his students. His door at CMU was truly "always open" to everyone. As a new adult student on campus, Harry made me feel as if I belonged there from the very first day!

Years later, as Harry saw my name mentioned in a local paper for a promotion or honor, he would always send along a congratulatory letter.

You were truly blessed to have Harry in your family. He was a lovely man and a memorable person. I will always feel privileged to have known Harry Faulk.

Posted on behalf of Janet Cipullo, (MPM ’87)
Vice President, Professional Services
Jefferson Regional Medical CenterPittsburgh, PA

What you can't learn from a book

2009-10-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

I can't begin to tell you how fortunate I was to have had the opportunity to work with Harry, to get to know him, and to learn so much from him. He taught me about things that can't be learned from a book.

Harry taught me the importance of treating everyone with respect and dignity. The importance of being yourself, whether in the presence of kings or servants, and stopping once in a while to laugh at a good story. Harry taught me to be fearless when you have a goal in mind, especially if the goal is for the benefit of students you care so much about. He taught me the importance of loyalty to old friends, of loving your work - but never putting it above your family, and of being a person of faith, living each day by the Lord's rules. Harry taught me the importance of a warm smile, a firm handshake, a kind word, and of "finding a way" when the "powers that be" say it is not possible.

I will always be inspired by Harry's thirst and hunger for knowledge and his constant desire to learn and grow and continue to improve.

Posted on behalf of Nancy Fritsch

An inspiring, faith filled, can-do human being...

2009-10-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

Harry Faulk was an inspiring, faith filled, can-do human being. He was no push over but he worked hard to figure out how to get things done in ways that will strengthen the lives of the people he served. He never forgot his mission. I will miss him.

Posted on behalf of Al Novak.

A Great Supporter

2009-10-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

Harry was a great support to me when I was both a student and staff member at Heinz.

Posted on behalf of Barbara Brewton

A Visionary Educator

2009-10-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Harry Faulk was a mentor, a friend, sage, and a visionary educator. I count the years I worked with him as a school principal, central office administrator, and adjunct professor as a life-long continuing professional development experience. I, and many others, regarded him as "Education's Energizer Bunny" for his enduring leadership in professional endeavors.

Never one to be content with the status quo, he was always forward looking and gave generously of his time, encouragement, and guidance to make things happen for the betterment of service on behalf of students and teachers.

Posted on behalf of:
Dr. Velma B. Saire
Adjunct Professor (retired)

He will be missed deeply by many!

2009-09-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

Dr. Harry R. Faulk was the first person I met at CMU when I came to the university in May 1995. I had very limited language and communication skills at the time. When I met with him for the first time, he asked me to come back in two hours. He made an arrangement with another Turkish student and asked him to talk to me and determine all I needed from him. He took care of all the items my Turkish friend explained to him in a very short period of time. He did talk to three professors so that I could listen to courses during summer to be prepared for the first official term in fall 95.

I have another example of his dedication to international students that I never forgot. On a Sunday afternoon, he came to a my friend's house in Oakland with a fax message in hand. The fax was in Turkish and he did not understand what the message was about. He thought that it might have been an important document and he did not want to wait till Monday.

He will be missed deeply by many!

Posted on behalf of Naim Kapucu

Thanks, Mr. Faulk...

2009-09-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

Posted on behalf of Hari Nugraha:

"Thanks Mr. Faulk.. 12 years ago, I met him at the airport of Pittsburgh. For almost 2 years he gave me support, it was like my father did for me, a student from Indonesia."

Harry was a wonderful man...

2009-09-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

"Harry was a wonderful man, always had a moment to 'talk,' and was a huge asset to CMU."

Shared on behalf of Bob Fay

Harry R. Faulk - Innovative visionary spent life in education

2009-09-25T06:11:00.000-07:00

The following excerpt is from the obituary printed on May 9, 2008 by Steve Twedt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harry R. Faulk left an imprint on Western Pennsylvania students and administrators that few educators can match.

From a community-based internship program he started for high school seniors in McKeesport, to helping Quaker Valley transform its curriculum into the computer age when he was in his 80s, Dr. Faulk is widely heralded as a visionary by those who worked with him.

"He was always an innovator, though you would never know it by his demeanor," said Jerry Longo, a University of Pittsburgh professor who was superintendent at Quaker Valley when Dr. Faulk worked with the district on its Digital School District project that assigned every student in grades three through 12 a laptop computer.

Though unassuming in his plain tie and blazer, Dr. Faulk "had the most creative mind," Dr. Longo said.

Read more...

Interested in Posting a Harry Faulk Remembrance on this Blog?

2009-09-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

If you have a remembrance of Harry Faulk, there are two ways to post on this blog:

1. Send an author request to tcatalan@andrew.cmu.edu. We will provide access so you can post directly.

2. Send us your remembrance, and we'll post it on your behalf.

Thank you,

H. John Heinz III College Alumni Relations, Carnegie Mellon University