U Magazine, Summer 1990

French in the mornings at the Co llege for Women and Larin, lacer French, ar the Sacred Heart high school in El Cajo n during the afte rnoons. The arrangement las ted a coupl e of years. And while it was difficult to teach both hi gh school and college students whil e also teaching two differe nt lan– guages, the situation brought some advantages, too. "It was the students who grad uated from there (El Cajon) who made up the French department here. The first year we had a majo r we had 15 majo rs in French," she recalls with a chuckle. Throughout her teaching career, Dr. Rigsby says, her students have told her sh e is a demanding and strict instructor. It's only after graduating chat they come back to cell her they understand why and how much they learned because of her style. "I believe in excellence," she explains. "I think we should stri ve always to go hi gher. I think that no matter what and no matter where you are, if you try to ri se it is good." T hat philosophy led Dr. Ri gsby to offer her students a total cultural experi – ence by es tablishing such extracurr icul ar activities as the French C lub and a chapter of Pi Delta Phi , the French honor society. It also Dr. Jeanne Rigsby the future? T har USO remain a teaching university whose professors continue to care deepl y abo ut thei r students. "I think my students appreciated the personal interest we showed them. We treated chem not only as students but as human beings. That makes a las ting difference. " H er former students undoubtedly Thanks to the generosity ofthe French-speaking San Diego community and severalformer students, Dr. Rigsby soon will establish an endowed scholarship for a French major. Reade,:, interestecl in contributing to theJi.me! should contact Dr. Timothy Willard at 260-4805. prompted her co develop such courses as her offerings on French thought. D r. Rigsby's wish for USO in

flairo

Looking back, she says she is proudest

about her former students' accom– plishments. Three

lassies ~i Au ~ovoir By Jacqueline Genovese and John Sutherland Between them, Dr. Lee Gerlach and Dr. Jeanne Rigsby have devoted over 50 years to helping students discover new worlds. Madame Rigsby Simply put, she has been the lifeblood ofUSD's French program for 31 years. During that span she's nurtured a program born in humble surro undings to respected status. Not only has she taught the arc of speaking F rench to hundreds of students, but she's introduced them to French culture, philosophy and history as well. N ow, however, says Dr. Jeanne Brink Rigsby, it's time to retire. T ime to say au revoir to USO. Time to spend mo re of her days with her husband, George. Time to write. Time to rravel. "Time to enj oy rime... ," she offers.

now hold doctor– ates in French and

teach at ocher univers ities. Several ochers reach French at rhe high school level. She corresponds regularly wi th many. ''I've always loved my students," she admits in an accent famili ar to so many. She holds warm feelings for rhe un 1vers1 ty, too. "Everybody here at rhe university has been so very helpful through rhe years," she says, gazing our rhe window of her comfortable Founders Hall office. "I want to thank the whole communi ty- from the Pres ident's Office to the vice pres i–

dents... the gardeners... everybody has helped. "

Dr. Rigsby's Alcala Park adve nture began in 1959. Thar's when Mother Aimee Rossi asked her to teach

'1 believe in excellence. I think we should strive always to go higher. "

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