Uncle Janko dies in auto accident

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Chip, Jan 29, 2009.

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  1. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    Jimmy Clifton was kind enough to email me to let me know that Uncle Janko (real name John Weaver-Hudson), who was a regular poster and DegreeInfo supporter for a long time, passed away in an automobile accident yesterday.

    Longtime DegreeInfo members will remember Janko as a very knowledgeable and helpful contributor to DegreeInfo who seemed to possess an almost encyclopedia knowledge about many topics. Although he had some differences with me and stopped posting here some time back, I've always felt that his contributions to the distance learning discussions here were beneficial to many, and his passing is certainly a big loss for the distance learning community as a whole, and the Lutheran congregation he headed as pastor.


    Here is the article that Jimmy forwarded:

    By ANDREW LERSTEN
    H-P South Haven Bureau
    HARTFORD - A Hartford church lost its spiritual leader in a car crash Tuesday.

    Rev. John Weaver-Hudson, 50, of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church died in what police believe was a one-car crash on westbound Interstate 94.

    The car was found flipped over in the median of I-94, near the Hartford exit, shortly before 5 a.m., state police from the Paw Paw post reported.

    "There were some slippery spots this morning," Sgt. Russ Ammon said. "There could have been some patches of black ice (causing a slide-off). I just don't know."

    Police found Weaver-Hudson strapped in with a seat belt inside the upside-down car. He wasn't breathing and could not be resuscitated, Ammon said.

    Weaver-Hudson, who was single, had been pastor at Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church for at least eight years, said church Elder Bob Weber.

    "He preached The Word very well and from a very conservative viewpoint," Weber said. "He was very good on the history of the church. He was a very knowledgeable man."

    Next-door neighbor Ron Ward said, "He was friendly. When we saw him, he was very cordial. He was pretty reserved. I imagine he was dedicated to his church work."

    State police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call them at the Paw Paw post, 657-5551.

    Funeral arrangements are being handled by Calvin Funeral Home in Hartford.
     
  2. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    We will miss his wit. Rest in Peace.
     
  3. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I know that Janko was a real champion for distance learning, accreditation and a tireless opponent to degree mills. He held some strong views and this may have alienated him from some but it also endeared him to others. I never met this man but based on what I know I'd say he was a good man who will be sorely missed by those around him. Rest in peace.
     
  4. StevenKing

    StevenKing Active Member

    He will be missed. Rest in peace, Janko.
     
  5. raristud

    raristud Member

    Rest in Peace Janko. You will be missed.
     
  6. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Unk was a fundamentally good person who stuck up for what he believed and defended what he thought was right. I considered him a friend. His passing comes as a shock. Somehow we just naively assume that everything will last forever.

    I'll always treasure the memory of Uncle Janko.
     
  7. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    Uncle Janko was a very active poster on this forum years ago when I first discovered DegreeInfo. I still hop over to the other forum from time to time and cath some his threads. He was a very smart, very friendly, very helpful man. The news of his passing is very sad and very disturbing to me.

    Pug
     
  8. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    This is tremendously sad news.

    I had been working fairly closely with John over the past 18 months, to help facilitate his battles with the bureaucracy in South Africa, in the pursuit of his Ph.D. at UNIZUL.
    More than once, in our long phone calls, he emphasized how he really needed to finish this degree soon, because he felt that his time left on earth was short. He said this again during a 90-minute phone call 3 days ago, on the occasion of his diploma finally arriving from South Africa, after a 2 or 3 month delay. I assumed he was referring to his physical challenges, but who knows. He suffered from severe narcolepsy, and said he had pretty much given up driving at night, so this may well have been a factor.

    He had been working on his dissertation for at least nine years, and I regard it as an academic masterpiece: The Republic of the Sacred: A Commentary on Book II of Cicero’s On the Laws.

    We disagreed on almost everything politically and socially, and both thoroughly enjoyed long telephonic debates, on all but one topic. He never forgave me when I resumed posting on this forum, and declared that a "don't go there" matter, never again to be discussed

    He will be sorely missed -- here, and in so many other places.

    John
     
  9. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster

    Rest in Peace.
     
  10. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    I agree - although I disagreed with Uncle Janko on some things, he was a supporter of DL, and fought against mills. He was working on a very comprehensive list of Independent Study oprions on Degree Discussion.

    His passing is a reminder that mortality is a fickle thing, and that we should enjoy our time on the earth with our loved ones - you just never know.

    RIP Uncle,

    Shawn
     
  11. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    Of course it's very sad to lose someone with as good a sense of humor and wealth of knowledge as Janko, but what a wonderful thing that he did, in fact, complete his dissertation and receive his diploma before he passed.

    I find it interesting that the diploma had arrived only 3 days ago. Perhaps he really did somehow know how short his time was, and at some level felt that, having received his diploma, he'd finished whatever it was he needed to do.
     
  12. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Unk's death is a shock to me. I am also a very conservative Christian type and though I'm not 100% sure of his stance on things I do know how stubborn we can be at times.

    I do know this, he was a champion of DL, he gave valuable advice away for free, dedicated his life in the service of the Lord and produced a dissertation that Dr. John Bear just called an "academic masterpiece". If that's not enough to miss the guy already I don't know what is. What a loss.
     
  13. manny00

    manny00 Member

    Very sad news. May he rest in peace.
     
  14. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    This is so sad - rest in peace.
     
  15. Fortunato

    Fortunato Member

    He will be missed. I was mostly a lurker when he was a regular poster, but I always admired his cantankerous wit and wisdom. His loved ones and his parishioners are in my thoughts.
     
  16. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    And what was Dr. Janko's degree title and alma mater?
     
  17. jek2839

    jek2839 New Member

    Rest in Peace Uncle J.
     
  18. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Ted: And what was Dr. Janko's degree title and alma mater?

    I think, but am not certain, that the degree title is Th.D. It is from the South African Theological Seminary/University of Zululand, which works in partnership with the University of Mississippi.

    He began his doctoral project in 1997, and worked steadily on the project for nearly twelve years, the last three enrolled at UniZulu. "The Republic of the Sacred: A Commentary on Book II of Cicero’s On the Laws."

    His chair was a Canadian scholar, Professor Arthur Song, Head of the Graduate School, South African Theological Seminary and Research Fellow at the University of Zululand.
     
  19. Lauradglas

    Lauradglas New Member

    His family & friends will be in my thoughts.
     
  20. buckwheat3

    buckwheat3 Master of the Obvious

    I always liked reading what Unk had to say...his wit was fantastic!
    He would get tough on those degree mills which always made me crack a smile or laugh!

    Unk was one of a kind, he left a lasting impression on me.
     

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