In Memory of Peter Lyman

It is with a heavy heart and a profound sense of sadness that I write this. When Peter died the world lost one of its most treasured human beings. I will always remember how Peter stood by me at a difficult time in my life. My heartfelt thoughts and sincere best wishes to his family.
— Eamon Daly, SIMS PH.D. student 1997-2000

Peter was one of the most gracious individuals that I had the privilage of knowing. His sense of humor was endearing. He was truly a gentleman. I will miss him terribly but I will cherish the many memories I have of him. --Kate Wilde, Friend
— Kate Wilde, Executive Assistant to Sara Miller McCune, SAGE Publications

I was shocked to learn of Peter's death. I very much enjoyed his classes; as his polar opposite, I would often watch him in the classroom much as bushman might check out a hedge fund manager. He never failed to inform and entertain. The university won't be the same without him.
— Michele Kerr, MIMS 2004

Once in a lifetime we get a chance to spend time with someone who can make a lasting positive impact to our entire life. Prof. Peter Lyman is one such person for me.

Prof. Lyman was a teacher in the word's truest sense - always encouraging, supportive and committed to mentoring the students with only good things to say. As my final year project advisor I had the great honor of growing under his guidance. Even well after SIMS, we stayed in touch and he never hesitated to help where he could. He had a wealth of knowledge and experience which he shared so humbly.

I feel very sad to have lost an inspiration but I know his spirit will be there besides us smiling fondly just as he always did, urging us to reach for our dreams and let nothing hold us back. Hat's off to you Prof. Lyman - your teachings will be cherished forever.
— Sumeet Solanki, MIMS 02

Peter was a longtime friend and colleague, from his time in Southern California and in Northern California. He was wise and funny at the same time; his delightful personality isn’t easily captured in words. He was always building bridges, reaching out to new people and new opportunities. He savored long hashes of ideas, whether over an office table or a dinner table. He made many good friends and he kept them. Not only did he make important contributions to information science, libraries, publishing, and public policy, he was a rare public intellectual in our field. We will miss him in so many ways, for so many reasons.
— Christine Borgman, Professor & Presidential Chair in Information Studies, UCLA

I am deeply hurt to read about the sad demise of Peter Lyman. Peter was my son's teacher at SIMS, and I had the pleasure of meeting him and having a good lunch with him when I travelled to USA in 2002. Peter, as I've known him, was very jovial and considerate and I feel terrible to know about his passing away. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
— Subhash Solanki, Parent

To Professor Lyman's families and friends:

A VALEDICTION FORBIDDING MOURNING. by John Donne

AS virtuous men pass mildly away, And whisper to their souls to go, Whilst some of their sad friends do say, "Now his breath goes," and some say, "No." So let us melt, and make no noise, No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move ; 'Twere profanation of our joys To tell the laity our love. Moving of th' earth brings harms and fears ; Men reckon what it did, and meant ; But trepidation of the spheres, Though greater far, is innocent. Dull sublunary lovers' love —Whose soul is sense—cannot admit Of absence, 'cause it doth remove The thing which elemented it. But we by a love so much refined, That ourselves know not what it is, Inter-assurèd of the mind, Care less, eyes, lips and hands to miss. Our two souls therefore, which are one, Though I must go, endure not yet A breach, but an expansion, Like gold to aery thinness beat. If they be two, they are two so As stiff twin compasses are two ; Thy soul, the fix'd foot, makes no show To move, but doth, if th' other do. And though it in the centre sit, Yet, when the other far doth roam, It leans, and hearkens after it, And grows erect, as that comes home. Such wilt thou be to me, who must, Like th' other foot, obliquely run ; Thy firmness makes my circle just, And makes me end where I begun.
— Shirley Ou Yang, MIMS 2002

I praise my heavenly Father to have professor Lyman to be my adviser, my friend and my mentor. We have a wonderful time to study and explore the secret of truth together during 2000-2002. He is a patient and deliberate instructor, always willing to listen. For an international student who needed to adjust oneself to American life, professor Lyman’s warm and gentle guidance released my insecurity and unfamiliarity with the environment. When I told him that I had a calling to work on E-church project, professor Lyman was the one who encouraged me to follow my heart. He taught me to endure the uncertainty when we do have a dream. It is him who made my adventure at Cal worthwhile. It is him who helped me to embrace God’s planning and struggle of my life bravely. There comes a time for all of us when we must say goodbye. But memories of those who we love live on and never die… Fare ware! Professor Lyman, you will always on my mind.
— Shirley Ou Yang, MIMS, 2002

I am struck by the remembrances of folks who knew Peter Lyman as a librarian. I first enountered him as a philosophy instructor at Michigan State University in 1969. I know, that makes me older than dirt.

Peter was an emigma. I still remember him slouched over a lectern, a sardonic smirk on his face, as he referenced a very obscure detail from Plato's Republic. Peter was a fan of irony.

I never understood what caused Peter to consider librarianship as his career. He was certainly focused on knowledge for its own sake. But I think his adoption of the Bibliotheque as career is itself ironic. It would be like Degas becoming an art museum curator.

I will most remember Peter for his surgical intellect. Always cutting things up into smaller parts and re-piecing them back together. But if he were a physician, he would definitely have been a neurosurgeon.

I think the world is a little less illuminated without Peter. His spirit is still bright in my mind's eye; but without the corpus we have all lost a guide into the realm of ideas and ideals on which his legacy is founded, both as a teacher and a librarian.
— Marty Atherton, i3 Innovus

Peter was kind and inspiring man who will be remembered fondly. We should all be so lucky to make such a mark in this world.
— Tu Tran, MIMS class of 2005

Several members of the University Library who worked with Peter have already been heard from here. Many more were in my e-mail stream this past week. Leaders across the UCs, the University of Illinois, and Johns Hopkins have contacted me directly. As I said in a note for our newsletter, Peter was the first person to lead the Library with professional background in the digital and network technology that was transforming scholarship and learning. He faced shrinking Berkeley budgets because of the state's financial problems at the very time Silicon Valley was conquering the world. He managed to be, at the same time, a crisis manager and a visionary.

As a professor, Peter spoke of himself as an “unfrocked University Librarian,” with his sly smile. His engagement with his students and major research projects on the coming of new technology made all of our efforts at Cal in this field more visible to the world. He was invariably helpful and positive when I saw him on campus, including while he coped with his illness. I know that many of his Library friends were able to stay in touch and to convey their affection.
— Tom Leonard, University Librarian

The sky is a bright blue with large, fuffy cumulous clouds. Birds are singing while the breeze moves the wind chimes rhythmically. We remain minutes from Michigan State and James Madison College. It was there in a small room of only 13 students, Peter Lyman changed the course of my husband's life in 1977. Thirty years seems but a moment ago. He was a role model until his last breath. May the family gain comfort in knowing they have touched many lives around the country.
— BJ Toman

Peter Lyman was a very generous, humble and gifted professor. I always remembered him being the first professor I counseled with, during my first week at SIMS back in 1999. Peter would talk broadly and share his honest opinions and experience to me. He was more than a counselor; a friend. Most of all, he was a great professor. His teaching and valuable advise had contributed a great deal of influence in my life. Thank you, Professor Lyman!
— ALVIN KURNIAWAN, MIMS 2001

Peter was one of my favorite professors in my entire course of education so far spanning three different universities in three different countries. He was a natural at putting people at ease. I thoroughly enjoyed his classes and I will always remember his words of encouragement and his classes as one of the highlights of my education at Berkeley.
— Chitra Madhwacharyula, Alumni Class of 2003

Respected by peers and admired by all, you will be remembered.
— Judy Ma

I was fortunate to have had Peter Lyman during my graduate studies at SIMS. I was also a TA for one of his classes the following year. I felt like I got to know him pretty well, but I have a feeling that is the way he made everyone feel -- like you are a good friend. He was a wonderful, caring, lovely man. I will never forget his sincerity and warm heart.
— Beth` Manning, Alumni Class of 2003

I am lucky to have him as the professor. I remembered the first year I struggled with school, he was the one who supported me. Sometimes when I felt homesick, he would tell me many stories about his visitings to Thailand where I am very proud of.
— Orchuma Prachasaisoradej, MIMS 2002

Peter was one of the dearest and wisest people I have come across. The two years I spent with him and the Digital Youth group was enough to completely derail my career path into something that I love and have been fortunate to continue based on what he taught me. I am grateful to have learned so much from him and I will miss him.
— Sarita Yardi, MIMS c/o 2006

Peter had so many gifts. He could teach only by listening. He knew how to ask a single question, so penetrating and wise, that it would set me on the right path. And he was utterly selfless and generous. Once, after he'd gotten sick, he called me at 8:30 on a Saturday morning, within 5 minutes of receiving a troubled email from me. He said, 'If you need to talk, come on over. Any time, any topic.'
— Judd Antin, Doctoral Student, School of Information

A great teacher and a visionist. He will be in my heart forever.
— Peiyun Hsueh

I didn't meet Peter until after he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. Despite his illness he invited me into his research group and actively mentored me for two years. He was unfailing in his dedication to, and concern for, his students. He tirelessly infused our group with renewed sources of optimism and imagination. He was intellectually vital, bravely open and genuinely optimistic. He is sorely missed.
— Christo Sims, Doctoral Student, School of Information

Peter was extremely wonderful to work with. He had a way of making everything positive...in conversation or in written word, he was simply incapable of harsh comments or negative feedback. As a result, discussions and classes that he led were always wonderful to be a part of. He was truly everybody's "favorite uncle" at SIMS...the man you could talk to anytime and always know he would listen and give you encouragement.
— Gabriel Lucas, MIMS, class of 2001

When I came to work for Peter as Library CAO in 1996, I walked in on the first day and asked him where he wanted me to start. All he said was, "Tell me what my budget is. I've been here for two years and nobody can tell me what my budget is."

In typical Berkeley fashion, it took months of investigation to assemble the pieces that provided the answer, and then the answer turned up a lot of surprises, both good and bad. This experience epitomized Peter's experience as University Librarian.
— Mike Rancer, Library CAO

Peter was a very charming,caring person who I enjoyed getting to know when he was head of Doe Library. It was always interesting and fun talking with him.....he always seemed so full of love for his family...glad our paths crossed...
— alex warren, Head, Morrison Library

From my first interaction with Peter - when I sent him an email inquiring about the possibility of coming to study at SIMS under his supervision, to which he sent a surprisingly detailed and thoughtful response - I was always impressed with his attention to the needs of his students. During the year I spent as Peter's advisee, I benefited greatly from Peter's willingness to help me find a topic that would really fit with my interests, rather than handing off to me a ready made problem. He encouraged me too look around, and was always willing to think together with me things that were interesting to me. His illness was a great loss and it was very sad to learn of his departure.
— Yuri Takhteyev, doctoral student

Peter Lyman was one of the most inspiring library leaders I ever encountered. He brought his keen intelligence and vision to bear on the issues of the day and and communicated a great enthusiasm for the goals and purposes of research libraries. He was a great champion of collections and of the underlying values of librarianship: intellectual freedom, institutional transparency, democratic access to information. He stood up to the forces of indifference and complacency, arguing that a great university deserves a great library, and he endured a great sacrifice to insure that the UC Berkeley Library would move forward and thrive. He was a man of integrity and honor to whom the campus owes a debt of gratitude.
— James H. Spohrer, Libn. for the Germanic Collections/UC Berkeley

This July 12 we will be celebrating the ten year anniversary of the Ethnic Studies Library. It seems not that long ago that we had our opening celebration, with University Librarian Peter Lyman and Vice-Chancellor Genaro Padilla and other faculty giving us a great start. Peter was extremely helpful during that critical time when we wanted to establish our library as a "real" library. He provided the beautiful custom-made signs and gave us the support of the Library technical services staff so that we could have access to GLADIS and provide the online catalog to our users. His support was incredibly far-sighted and also very encouraging for our staff. It led the way to our library joining AUTOCIRC about three years ago. Thank you so much, Peter, for believing in our library and our mission.
— Lillian Castillo-Speed, Head Librarian, Ethnic Studies Library

Peter somehow achieved an optimal balance between teacher, mentor, inspiration, and friend. His joy and enthusiasm for working with students was undeniable and contagious. When I taught with him, I had never seen so many undergrads so fond of their teacher. He had an uncanny ability to stimulate learning and curiosity, which I suspect was just one manifestation of a deep appreciation of the unending interestingness of our world.
— Jeffrey Heer, Doctoral Student, Computer Science Division

Peter encouraged me to apply to the school and quickly became my friend and mentor. We talked for hours about everything from youth culture and academic publishing to regulation to suppress youth and the meaning of life. What I remember most is how much our talks always energized and motivated me to continue trying to change the world.
— danah boyd, doctoral student, School of Information

Peter fought infinite battles against bureaucratic abominations. He was always calm and serene, yet strong and determined. Above all, he was a great human being.
— Matteo Bittanti, post-doctoral researcher, School of Information

Peter was extraordinarily dedicated to his students, his teaching, and his research. He was a joy to work with, always interested in new ideas and new people. My best ever teaching experience was team-teaching a required graduate course with him: I learned a lot, the students learned a lot, and we all laughed a lot, too.
— Nancy Van House, professor, School of Information