Ian Craib,1945-2002

Abstract

A moving commemoration at the University of Essex on 7th March of Ian Craib, Professor of Sociology, began with an affectionate address by his son, Ben. Ian Craib died at the age of 57 years on 22nd December, 2002 from a massive heart-attack, induced by an inoperable cancer in his lungs. ‘Remembering Ian Craib’ lasted nearly three hours. This was not because of the string quartet playing favourite pieces of Ian's nor because of the past and present colleagues, both academic and administrative, who also paid him generous tribute. It was principally because of the students who queued up to praise and appreciate what one of them described as ‘the most inspiring teacher that I have ever known.’