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Passing of Tippy Schwabe
11/09/2018
Julius Pañares
On March 29, 2018, Gwendolyn T. Schwabe, known to all as Tippy, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in Haverford, Pennsylvania, where she had been living in retirement. The TESOL profession in California has much to thank her for, in her roles as a Senior Lecturer...
On March 29, 2018, Gwendolyn T. Schwabe, known to all as Tippy, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in Haverford, Pennsylvania, where she had been living in retirement. The TESOL profession in California has much to thank her for, in her roles as a Senior Lecturer in English/Linguistics at UC Davis and as a Past President of CATESOL, she was a source of support and inspiration to hundreds of international students, ESL teachers in training, and ESL professionals ranging from veterans to new beginners.
A true role model, Tippy inspired others to become actively involved in CATESOL. " I seriously doubt that many people turned her down. She got us to say, 'Yes, I can do that' more than we ever even realized," remembered Karen Dennis, one of the many past presidents of CATESOL who fondly remember Tippy's influence in making them strong leaders, her continuous moral support of CATESOL, and her far-reaching ideas for strengthening the organization. "Tippy was a model for me in her leadership of CATESOL. I looked forward to seeing her at all the conferences--and at TESOL too!" noted Sharon Seymour, another past president of CATESOL.
Kathleen Flynn, a recent past president of CATESOL, underscored how proactive Tippy was in attending CATESOL presentations and encouraging the presenters to continue with their research and make it available to others via CATESOL. As an example, at a presentation regarding a joint project between the Credit and Non-Credit ESL Divisions at Glendale Community College, she offered cogent advice and strategies that proved useful for a number of years.
June McKay, CATESOL President 1985-1986 and best friends with Tippy for over 40 years, said that she and Tippy "shared a room at an uncountable number of CATESOL conferences and were equally dedicated to the betterment of our professional organization. Because we each worked with ESL students on UC campuses--she at Davis and I at Berkeley--we also served together on various state-wide committees.
In her long career as a teacher trainer, Tippy has left a legion of ESL professionals and CATESOL supporters. Janet Lane, one of those she mentored, said, "Tippy was the best mentor a person could ever ask for. I well remember the day when I was a senior at UC Davis I "sat in her office and told her I could not take her pedagogy course because everyone else in the class had taught before and I felt extremely behind all the others. She encouraged me to continue and said, 'You'll probably be one of the best.' Ellen Lange, who got her start in those same pedagogy classes and later became 2013-2014 CATESOL President, said she is forever grateful for Tippy's ability to give careful, honest advice. "When I gave her the first write-up of a research project she had assigned me, Tippy promptly wrote on it with her pencil: 'Did you outline this?' That remark turned into a life-long lesson.
After her retirement, Tippy created the Tippy Schwabe Grant at UC Davis through the CATESOL Educational Foundation as a means to encourage graduate students to become actively involved in CATESOL through attending conferences, volunteering and giving presentations. Jan Eyring, a professor at CSU--Fullerton, said that Tippy's "donations to the Foundation for scholarships for students was the inspiration for a similar program at Cal State Fullerton."
Indeed as Gretchen Bitterlin, another Past President, so carefully observed, "Tippy was a CATESOL icon.
Do you have a remembrance of Tippy that you want to share?
Scroll to the bottom of this post (past Author Comments) and type in your comments by logging into your facebook account.
Comment Authors
Jan Eyring
So sorry to hear of Tippy's passing. I am glad she died peacefully. The TESOL profession in California has much to thank her for--she was an inspiration to 100s of students and ESL professionals across the state. She stayed active in CATESOL to the end and, of course, her donations to the Foundation for scholarships for students was the inspiration for a similar program at Cal State Fullerton. She will be sorely missed!
Gretchen Bitterlin
Tippy Schwabe was a CATESOL icon. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. She was an incredible mentor of younger teachers and through her example inspired others to be actively involved in CATESOL. I hope there will be a special tribute to her at our next State Conference.
Karen Dennis
Outstanding idea, and the word “ICON” is perfect. She was truly a driving force behind CATESOL. I still have a letter from her when I was president that I treasure. She was very supportive and had wonderful ideas that she implemented. I seriously doubt that many people turned her down. She got us to say “Yes, I can do that” more than we realized.
Dan Fitchner
She was a great lady and someone who thought of the future. She will be missed.
Janet Lane
I would like to echo what everyone else has said. In addition, as one of those she mentored, I would say that Tippy was the best mentor a person could ever ask for. I remember the day (when I was a senior undergraduate student) that I sat in her office and told her I could not take her pedagogy course because everyone else in the class had taught before except for me and I felt extremely behind all the others. She encouraged me to continue and said “you’ll probably be one of the best.” Even though that’s not exactly true, that was just the beginning of her impact on me. I would say that Tippy was the one who propelled me into many, many of the most important projects I have embarked on in my career (including my involvement in CATESOL, publishing a successful book, becoming a specialist in working with international graduate students.). She was a major force in my development as an instructor and I will be forever grateful to her. She was talented in seeing people’s gifts and helping them see the path to developing those gifts. She also cared about those she worked with and those she taught as people, always pausing to ask how things were going, how family members were, how other aspects of life were going. She was a compassionate person who valued diversity and peace. Although I knew this day would come, it was still extremely hard to hear this news. I am very grateful you all let me know and would appreciate knowing about the service in the Bay Area.
Margaret Teske
It is sad to hear this news. Tippy was a wonderful mentor to many in CATESOL. She was generous with her time and funds to help her students . She has left us with warm thoughts and hearts. I always enjoyed talking with her and getting her insights.
Kathy Flynn
I would like to add that Tippy was very proactive in attending CATESOL presentations and encouraging the presenters to continue with their research and make it available to others via CATESOL. She attended a presentation regarding a joint project between the Credit and Non-Credit ESL Divisions at Glendale Community College and offered both cogent advice and strategy that proved useful for a number of years. Tippy will be missed by so many and that is a testimony to the impact of her work in the field and her ever-present interest in the best aspects of those around her. This was evidenced by her desire to set up the Foundation Leadership Grant.
Sharon Seymour
Tippy was a model for me in her leadership of CATESOL. I looked forward to seeing her at all the conferences- and at TESOL too!
Ellen Lange
Tippy is directly responsible for my career in TESOL. Without her encouragement, enthusiasm, and support, I would have continued toiling away at jobs I did not like and would never have engaged in my true passion, teaching and writing materials. I am so grateful that she pushed me to achieve by her strong belief in the value of the “sink or swim” method that has always helped me forget “being an impostor” and forge ahead. And she taught me the value of giving back, a prime motivation for my being active in CATESOL.
June McKay
Tippy Schwabe and I were the best of friends for over 40 years. We shared a room at an uncountable number of CATESOL conferences and were equally dedicated to the betterment of our professional organization. Because we each worked with ESL students on UC campuses—she at Davis and I at Berkeley—we also served together on various state-wide committees. After we retired, we traveled extensively together. With her exuberant, outgoing personality, Tippy was always fun to be with. It’s hard to believe she’s gone. When I spoke briefly to her a few days before she died, she was weak but still sounded like the Tippy I knew and loved.
Julius Pañares
On March 29, 2018, Gwendolyn T. Schwabe, known to all as Tippy, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in Haverford, Pennsylvania, where she had been living in retirement. The TESOL profession in California has much to thank her for, in her roles as a Senior Lecturer...On March 29, 2018, Gwendolyn T. Schwabe, known to all as Tippy, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in Haverford, Pennsylvania, where she had been living in retirement. The TESOL profession in California has much to thank her for, in her roles as a Senior Lecturer in English/Linguistics at UC Davis and as a Past President of CATESOL, she was a source of support and inspiration to hundreds of international students, ESL teachers in training, and ESL professionals ranging from veterans to new beginners.A true role model, Tippy inspired others to become actively involved in CATESOL. " I seriously doubt that many people turned her down. She got us to say, 'Yes, I can do that' more than we ever even realized," remembered Karen Dennis, one of the many past presidents of CATESOL who fondly remember Tippy's influence in making them strong leaders, her continuous moral support of CATESOL, and her far-reaching ideas for strengthening the organization. "Tippy was a model for me in her leadership of CATESOL. I looked forward to seeing her at all the conferences--and at TESOL too!" noted Sharon Seymour, another past president of CATESOL.
Kathleen Flynn, a recent past president of CATESOL, underscored how proactive Tippy was in attending CATESOL presentations and encouraging the presenters to continue with their research and make it available to others via CATESOL. As an example, at a presentation regarding a joint project between the Credit and Non-Credit ESL Divisions at Glendale Community College, she offered cogent advice and strategies that proved useful for a number of years.
June McKay, CATESOL President 1985-1986 and best friends with Tippy for over 40 years, said that she and Tippy "shared a room at an uncountable number of CATESOL conferences and were equally dedicated to the betterment of our professional organization. Because we each worked with ESL students on UC campuses--she at Davis and I at Berkeley--we also served together on various state-wide committees.
In her long career as a teacher trainer, Tippy has left a legion of ESL professionals and CATESOL supporters. Janet Lane, one of those she mentored, said, "Tippy was the best mentor a person could ever ask for. I well remember the day when I was a senior at UC Davis I "sat in her office and told her I could not take her pedagogy course because everyone else in the class had taught before and I felt extremely behind all the others. She encouraged me to continue and said, 'You'll probably be one of the best.' Ellen Lange, who got her start in those same pedagogy classes and later became 2013-2014 CATESOL President, said she is forever grateful for Tippy's ability to give careful, honest advice. "When I gave her the first write-up of a research project she had assigned me, Tippy promptly wrote on it with her pencil: 'Did you outline this?' That remark turned into a life-long lesson.
After her retirement, Tippy created the Tippy Schwabe Grant at UC Davis through the CATESOL Educational Foundation as a means to encourage graduate students to become actively involved in CATESOL through attending conferences, volunteering and giving presentations. Jan Eyring, a professor at CSU--Fullerton, said that Tippy's "donations to the Foundation for scholarships for students was the inspiration for a similar program at Cal State Fullerton."
Indeed as Gretchen Bitterlin, another Past President, so carefully observed, "Tippy was a CATESOL icon.
Do you have a remembrance of Tippy that you want to share?
Scroll to the bottom of this post (past Author Comments) and type in your comments by logging into your facebook account.
Comment Authors
Jan Eyring
So sorry to hear of Tippy's passing. I am glad she died peacefully. The TESOL profession in California has much to thank her for--she was an inspiration to 100s of students and ESL professionals across the state. She stayed active in CATESOL to the end and, of course, her donations to the Foundation for scholarships for students was the inspiration for a similar program at Cal State Fullerton. She will be sorely missed!
Gretchen Bitterlin
Tippy Schwabe was a CATESOL icon. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. She was an incredible mentor of younger teachers and through her example inspired others to be actively involved in CATESOL. I hope there will be a special tribute to her at our next State Conference.
Karen Dennis
Outstanding idea, and the word “ICON” is perfect. She was truly a driving force behind CATESOL. I still have a letter from her when I was president that I treasure. She was very supportive and had wonderful ideas that she implemented. I seriously doubt that many people turned her down. She got us to say “Yes, I can do that” more than we realized.
Dan Fitchner
She was a great lady and someone who thought of the future. She will be missed.
Janet Lane
I would like to echo what everyone else has said. In addition, as one of those she mentored, I would say that Tippy was the best mentor a person could ever ask for. I remember the day (when I was a senior undergraduate student) that I sat in her office and told her I could not take her pedagogy course because everyone else in the class had taught before except for me and I felt extremely behind all the others. She encouraged me to continue and said “you’ll probably be one of the best.” Even though that’s not exactly true, that was just the beginning of her impact on me. I would say that Tippy was the one who propelled me into many, many of the most important projects I have embarked on in my career (including my involvement in CATESOL, publishing a successful book, becoming a specialist in working with international graduate students.). She was a major force in my development as an instructor and I will be forever grateful to her. She was talented in seeing people’s gifts and helping them see the path to developing those gifts. She also cared about those she worked with and those she taught as people, always pausing to ask how things were going, how family members were, how other aspects of life were going. She was a compassionate person who valued diversity and peace. Although I knew this day would come, it was still extremely hard to hear this news. I am very grateful you all let me know and would appreciate knowing about the service in the Bay Area.
Margaret Teske
It is sad to hear this news. Tippy was a wonderful mentor to many in CATESOL. She was generous with her time and funds to help her students . She has left us with warm thoughts and hearts. I always enjoyed talking with her and getting her insights.
Kathy Flynn
I would like to add that Tippy was very proactive in attending CATESOL presentations and encouraging the presenters to continue with their research and make it available to others via CATESOL. She attended a presentation regarding a joint project between the Credit and Non-Credit ESL Divisions at Glendale Community College and offered both cogent advice and strategy that proved useful for a number of years. Tippy will be missed by so many and that is a testimony to the impact of her work in the field and her ever-present interest in the best aspects of those around her. This was evidenced by her desire to set up the Foundation Leadership Grant.
Sharon Seymour
Tippy was a model for me in her leadership of CATESOL. I looked forward to seeing her at all the conferences- and at TESOL too!
Ellen Lange
Tippy is directly responsible for my career in TESOL. Without her encouragement, enthusiasm, and support, I would have continued toiling away at jobs I did not like and would never have engaged in my true passion, teaching and writing materials. I am so grateful that she pushed me to achieve by her strong belief in the value of the “sink or swim” method that has always helped me forget “being an impostor” and forge ahead. And she taught me the value of giving back, a prime motivation for my being active in CATESOL.
June McKay
Tippy Schwabe and I were the best of friends for over 40 years. We shared a room at an uncountable number of CATESOL conferences and were equally dedicated to the betterment of our professional organization. Because we each worked with ESL students on UC campuses—she at Davis and I at Berkeley—we also served together on various state-wide committees. After we retired, we traveled extensively together. With her exuberant, outgoing personality, Tippy was always fun to be with. It’s hard to believe she’s gone. When I spoke briefly to her a few days before she died, she was weak but still sounded like the Tippy I knew and loved.