The Right Person At The Right Place At The Right Time

During my senior year in college, before I knew in which direction my professional life would lead, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Ling and listen to him speak at an oral school for deaf and hard of hearing children. My fiancée, Lea, who had recently completed her M.S. in Speech Pathology, was with me as we spoke with Dr. Ling. He was so optimistic and inspiring that I could not help but jump at his offer to come to Montreal for graduate study at McGill University. Dan Ling was the connection I needed in turning a passive understanding of this great profession into working knowledge and a career. His enthusiasm was contagious whether we discussed speech teaching strategies, educational philosophy, productive fishing spots, or how to make his delicious seafood stew.

Dan’s openness and excitement regarding his work was infectious to all of us at McGill.  He used everything from A.G. Bell’s writings on vowel theories to his own practical demonstrations with empty bottles to inspire us in our studies and practicum experiences. Dan’s contributions to this profession are remarkable and have reached out to parents, teachers, and children who are deaf and hard of hearing all over the world. His sense of humor, friendship, professional integrity, and ability to bring a profession into focus for me is a legacy that will be with me forever.

It was a revelation to me at the time that Dan could be a friend as well as a professor. Now, through the lens of time, I can see that Dan was much more than a friend and professor, but in reality a mentor to both Lea and me as we focused our careers on helping families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Dan was the first person we turned to for support and advice. He was always there to help.

Like Alexander Graham Bell, Dan strove to apply scientific study of speech to help people who were deaf and hard of hearing. Each published works on teaching speech and advocated for mainstream education. Both talented musicians, they were catalysts for professional enlightenment. They each raised sheep. They both immigrated to Canada. They even shared the same birth month and death month. One of my favorite memories of Dan is when we explored Bell’s summer home, Beinn Bhreagh.  In 1985 Dan was invited to speak as part of the 100 Years Parks Canada Celebration at the A.G. Bell Museum in Baddeck, NS.

Dan had the insight and conviction to stick up for his ideals and was tireless in his desire to teach teachers. For those of us who were lucky to attend the School of Human Communication Disorders at McGill, Dan’s legacy of personal interest and continued support was remarkable even in his “retirement”. We were honored to have Dan build a violin for our daughter. We always enjoyed catching up with Dan at workshops and conventions. He will be sorely missed at these events in the future.

Thank you, Dan, for being the right person at the right place at the right time.