Joe Windham passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday. Joe was the father of Cameron Windham '14, a pitcher and highly respected member of the winningest class in Amherst College baseball history. Joe, along with our parents, siblings, alumni, and friends, make up the backbone of our baseball family – his death is devastating to us all. We will remember Joe as a loving father and husband, wonderful friend, outstanding citizen, and beloved professor.
When I picture Joe, I see his puffed chest and big smile, bursting with pride. Joe was a proud man and he had good reason to be. He was proud of his son and his family. He was proud of the baseball team. He was proud of who he was. This pride was for all the right reasons – Joe did not put on airs – Joe carried himself with class and he taught his family to do the same. My hope is that he was proud of the baseball team because he saw the same character strengths in our team that he had instilled in his son, Cameron and his daughter, Savannah.
We are going to miss Joe's smile, his booming voice, and his eternal optimism regardless of the score of the game, the weather, or the mood of the day. I remember one baseball game in particular when our opponent added to their commanding lead and Joe called out, "we're okay, we'll get them this inning!" His positive energy and deep voice made me feel good inside, because I knew that what Joe was offering wasn't false hope, it was a true belief - from the heart - in our team.
Joe placed great faith in our team and in his son, Cameron. Cameron became our closer during his freshman year, which meant that many of Cameron's appearances were in close games. After getting to know Joe, I understand why Cameron was so cool under pressure – he learned this from his father. Joe was the epitome of "cool"; nothing seemed to faze him. Maybe this is because he was so comfortable with who he was and what he stood for, maybe it was because of his positive outlook on life, or maybe it was because of the legacy that he was a part of – a family history rich in tradition. Joe's family history stretches from the Jim Crow era of the Deep South: his mother was born in Georgia, his father in South Carolina. Both migrated to Harlem, New York where they took part in the Harlem Renaissance, experienced the Great Depression, and were activists in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1975, Joe received his Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where in his words "the four years of matriculation there were filled with healthy academic study, political activism, and social interaction at what was then a very progressive and fun campus community." He continued his studies at The Ohio State University where he received a Master's in black studies. Joe eventually moved to Washington DC where he received his Ph.D. in history from Howard University and where he raised a family with his wife Marilyn Milloy.
Joe was a history and civilizations professor at Northern Virginia Community College. A quick Google search for teacher ratings will bring you to the Rate My Professors website. The comments are a testimony to the love for Professor Windham by his students:
"Professor Windham gives me life! He's so helpful making sure u understand the material! Makes class interesting and engages you at all time."
"No other professor teaches history like this man."
"Enthusiastic professor who cares about a student's development of social awareness and the skills needed for college success."
"Very relaxed, understanding teacher. Really proves that if he sees you make an effort, tries and succeeds to meet you halfway. Charismatic speaker and storyteller."
These student observations tell the story of a professor, community activist, husband, and father who enriched the lives of others. Last month, a team parent sent me a text of a sign posted in an ice hockey rink. The message of the sign speaks to what Joe understood as a professor and parent. It reads:
"Your child's success or lack of success in sports does not indicate what kind of parent you are. But having an athlete that is coachable, respectful, a great teammate, mentally tough, resilient and tries their best IS a direct reflection of your parenting."
Joe embodied this style of parenting. He supported his son and daughter and their teammates with love and positive encouragement, allowing them to fail and succeed on their own. In doing so, he taught his son and daughter courage and grace.
We shouldn't lose great men so young. Future students have been cheated out of a great teacher, our baseball family has lost a great friend. Cameron and Savannah will miss their father. And so I will close with the message that Arthur Ashe wrote to his daughter Camera in his memoir, "I may not be walking with you all the way, or even much of the way…Don't be angry with me if I am not there in person, alive and well, when you need me. I would like nothing more than to be with you always. Do not feel sorry for me if I am gone. When we were together, I loved you deeply and you gave me so much happiness I can never repay you…wherever I am when you feel sick at heart and weary of life, or when you stumble and fall and don't know if you can get up again, think of me. I will be watching and smiling and cheering you on."
- Head Coach Brian Hamm
A celebration of Joe's life will take place on Monday, January 5, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College (4915 East Campus Lane, Alexandria, VA). Everyone is welcome.
In Joe's memory, his family asks that contributions be made to the Joseph Windham Memorial Scholarship. To make a contribution, please follow the link below to the NVCC Foundation website:
http://www.nvcc.edu/alumni-and-friends/gifts/online.htm
(Joe Windham pictured above with his wife, Marilyn and his son, Cameron '14)
