Saturday, November 25, 2023
I just found out about this and would like to extend my condolences to Dr. Nakon's family and share some of my memories of him. Dr. Nakon was without a doubt the best teacher I've ever had. He always welcomed students' questions and explained everything so that, if one was attentive, the subject matter became crystal clear. He treated everyone formally and with respect, yet was also a bit of a father figure. You never had to look hard to find him, because he was always surrounded by a gaggle of students asking him questions. Despite the large enrollment in his classes, he knew each and every one of us by name. After the semester ended, I ran into him on High St. and he invited me to get some pizza with him. Later in life, I'd run into him at Kegler's Sports Bar once in a while, where he was still talking chemistry with alumni. Wherever he went, he brought smiles to people's faces. Dr. Nakon was truly one of the country's outstanding science educators. He should have been on The Great Courses, as his lectures were works of art. I'm really going to miss him. Thank you, Dr. Nakon, for making me love a topic I used to fear, and thank you for being such a welcoming and generous individual. You made an impact on more lives than you could ever know and will remain forever loved.
