August/September 2005

Volume 46, Number 1

In Memoriam: Joy Yunker

by Professor Robert H. Amend

We are all unique people. However, I'm sure that all of you would agree that Joy Yunker was a truly singular individual. Professor J. O. Yunker was the Chair of the Technical Communications Department at Metropolitan State College of Denver and upon retirement, she earned the rank of emeritus faculty member. Her accomplishments and service to the college are too numerous to recount, so I'll just mention a few.

First and foremost, Professor Yunker was an advocate for the college. She was a tireless supporter and campaigner for Metro who truly believed in the college's role and mission, and the students it served.

Joy was the face of Technical Communication at the college. She founded the department, hired the first handful of faculty and helped ensure its longevity. She was instrumental in encouraging students to pursue their collegiate and career dreams. This was evidenced by the fact that under Joy's helm, the department produced three President's Award Winners—a rather remarkable achievement for such a small department. And like many graduates from the college, those from our department distinguished themselves by working with companies and organizations here in Colorado and throughout the world. Some of them are in attendance today as a tribute to Professor Yunker.

Joy deeply believed in service to the college. This service included a long tenure as the department's representative to the faculty senate and membership, at some time or another, on most of the established school and college committees. She was a founding member of the Auraria Faulty and Staff Club and had been its president. Even in retirement, Joy was active. She had been spearheading the move to organize retired and emeritus faculty members so that the college could benefit from their knowledge and expertise.

Just the other day, Emeritus Professor Duke Stoner from our department reminded me that Joy had been a strong advocate for women. Prior to coming to the college, she had worked at the National Jewish Hospital. Her time there reinforced her determination to help women students undertake and succeed in professional occupations. But Joy did not discriminate. She mentored numerous students, both male and female, during her tenure at the college.

There were other activities that Joy engaged in during her younger years. Undoubtedly, she was the only faculty person at Metro who had been a member of an undergraduate fencing team, a recreational activity she pursued during her student days at Syracuse. And I remember her reminiscing about the days she would don ice skates when she was a graduate student at the University of Illinois.

Outside of the college community, Joy was enamored with her dog, Pendragon, and animals in general. She delighted in raising and training her dogs. Another favorite activity was visiting the Denver Zoo and observing the baby animals being fed.

The time that college faculty spend in service to the college, community and to professional organizations occasionally overshadows their paramount responsibility which is to teach. For Professor Yunker, teaching and advising students was her true love. Joy did not pamper students and I'm sure some of you can attest to this fact. She demanded that students write and produce final projects that met exacting standards. I can recall more than a few times when students lamented that she was a tough, sometimes daunting teacher, but never did I hear a student say that she was unfair. One graduate confided to me that she wrote on one of his papers "This is one of the worst reports I've ever read". However, through hard work he managed a C in the class.

Joy's favorite classes to teach were Communication Law and Power and Authority. And she was quite knowledgeable about each. She researched law cases with the tenacity of an attorney, and some say she often demonstrated the principles of power and authority in her classes. But I will never forget a sign in her office that summarized Joy's witty outlook on a controversial law issue and teaching in general. The sign read "As long as there are exams, there will be prayer in school."

Finally, Joy was the long-time director of Commencement for the college. Yes, this was a difficult undertaking, especially at semester's end. Occasionally, actually quite often, I heard her mutter a few choice words about the manner in which commencement planning was proceeding. But Joy was truly in her glory as director of commencement. Who else could have reveled so much in reminding college presidents, elected officials, politicians and other dignitaries about their duties on graduation day?

Just as Commencement is the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one, so too, is this service today. I know that all of you will retain a special memory of Joy. For me, it's quite simple. Whenever I hear the strains of the traditional commencement music by Sir Edward Elgar, a sly smile will cross my face and I'll think of her. Rest in peace, Joy.

Professor Amend is the Chair of the Department of Technical Communication & Media Production at Metropolitan State College of Denver. He can be reached at: amendb@mscd.edu