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Today's most e-mailed
Prior days' news: By date | Search This week's print issue Back issues: By date | Search April 17, 2007Christopher James BishopChristopher James (Jamie) Bishop, 35, the bespectacled German-language instructor at Virginia Tech who rode his bike to campus and often met with students outside of class for further practice, was a “born teacher.” Mr. Bishop grew up in Pine Mountain, Ga., and earned his B.A. in German from the University of Georgia. Afterward he traveled to Germany as a Fulbright scholar, where he studied early and ancient history and archaeology. He returned to his alma mater to earn an M.A. in German. But he took a detour, he says in his online journal, back to Germany for four years to improve his linguistic skills, teach English, become a connoisseur of wheat beer, and woo a certain Fräulein, Stefanie Hofer, who later became his wife. Ms. Hofer also teaches German at Virginia Tech.  Mr. Bishop was just as passionate about art as he was about German. He was a multimedia artist and photographer who appreciated comic-book covers by Dave McKean, one of his artistic superheroes. Mr. Bishop designed covers for many books by his father, the novelist and short-story writer Michael Bishop. The elder Mr. Bishop is a writer in residence at LaGrange College, in Georgia, where he teaches creative writing. Alex Wilson, a fellow artist and a friend of Jamie’s, recalls that the two “used to meet at his place or at Weaver Street to trade foreign films and comic books, to talk about art, and about changing the world with art.” “He wasn’t going to do something unless he could give it the time to do it right, and the proof is in the work,” Mr. Wilson says. In December, Mr. Bishop built a coffee table composed of 72 wooden tiles that he had cut and individually painted. “He called it one of the most creative things he’s ever done,” says Mr. Wilson. Before teaching at Virginia Tech, Mr. Bishop worked as an academic-technology liaison at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he provided technical support for faculty and staff members and graduate students. “He was everybody’s friend, which is unusual in academia,” says Valeria X. D’Alcantara, an educational-technology specialist and a former colleague at Chapel Hill. “He had a gift for lightening the moment with a wit and wisdom all his own.” Mr. Bishop was an Atlanta Braves fan and an excellent racquetball player, friends say. He enjoyed hiking and going to the movies. He had recently applied for an M.F.A. program in photography and graphic design at Radford University. “He was just an all-around fascinating person, which is obvious, if you take a look at his artwork and all of the areas of education he pursued,” says Holly Boatright, who grew up close to his family and attended First United Methodist Church of Pine Mountain, where Mr. Bishop was still a member. —Lauren Smith Posted on Tuesday April 17, 2007 | Permalink |Comments |
jamie was one of my first german teachers at UGA. he was really a nice person outside of class, unlike a lot of professors. rest in peace, jamie.
— jon wilson Apr 18, 09:53 AM #
I knew Jamie at UNC as a quiet guy with a big smile. I’m sad to hear you’re gone.
— TJ Leiterman Apr 18, 12:45 PM #
Without a doubt, one of the nicest guys I ever had the pleasure to know. I will never forget him.
— Timothy Grant Apr 18, 02:53 PM #
Jamie was motivated to help people. Always. It pleased him to creatively solve problems for people. In my own interactions with him as a colleague, he was so kind, so interesting, that every conversation I had with him left me with a smile on my face.
— Tom Cox Apr 18, 03:00 PM #
Jamie will be missed.
— Jason Morningstar Apr 18, 03:24 PM #
Jamie did the graphic design for the first web application I programmed at UNC. He was talented and extremely nice and helpful. I’ve missed him ever since he left Chapel Hill for Blacksburg.
— Chris Calloway Apr 18, 03:55 PM #
I knew Jamie as a student at the University of Georgia. He and I were in a summer program in Germany together. We had a great time there, and even though he was only 19 at the time, it was clear that he was a unique person. He was an extremely intelligent guy. He was an “all around” type person, who was practical, creative, and humble. He was really an impressive person. The world has truly lost a special person.
— Philip Perkins Apr 18, 04:10 PM #
Ich kenne Jamie aus Heidelberg, er brachte uns English bei. Jamie war einer der freundlichsten und hilfsbereitesten Personen die ich je kennengelernt habe… unfassbar.
— Dirk Großegödinghaus Apr 18, 04:38 PM #
Cheers, Jamie, from a fellow lover of the German language and instructor of German history. Edel sei der Mensch, hilfreich und gut.
— David D. Apr 18, 05:07 PM #
Es ist nicht in Worte zu fassen. Danke Jamie! -für die Zeit in Heidelberg, für den besten Englisch Kurs, den ich je hatte.
Menschen treten in unser Leben und begleiten uns eine Weile. Einige bleiben für immer,
denn sie hinterlassen ihre Spuren in unseren
Herzen.
Du wirst denen, die Dich kannten, sehr fehlen.
— Andrea Bittner Apr 19, 04:44 AM #
I was my honor to know Jamie and his family when he was growing up in Pine Mountain. Please pray for his family. The whole world is impoverished by his loss.
— Ray King Apr 19, 11:45 AM #
My deepest sympathy goes out the entire Bishop family. It was an honor and privilege to have known and worked with Jamie years ago. May he rest in peace.
— Jeff DeWitte Apr 19, 12:53 PM #
i met jamie in 2001 when he served as the IT support person for the math department at unc chapel hill. his friendliness and professionalism were exceptional, and he clearly enjoyed helping faculty conquer any number of computer-related problems. the first time he came to my office, we immediately hit it off, as we discovered we shared many of the same favorite bands and artists. he quickly became one of my favorite new friends in chapel hill. his kind-heartedness and sense of humor illuminated the lives of all who knew him. he especially loved recounting how he and his wife steffi met while he was teaching in germany. he was a gifted artist, and i had the great pleasure of him sharing some of his digital photography and design with me. i remember how happy and proud he was when his cover art was selected by Golden Gryphon publishing for a soon-to-be-published collection of his father’s short stories. it is impossible to articulate the sorrow and hurt i feel for his wife and loved ones. although my heart is shredded, as i taught my classes today, i kept seeing his truly infectious smile as he would tease me about my neil young obsession. thank you, jamie, for sharing your light with us. i am honored to know you.
— mark mccombs Apr 19, 01:24 PM #
Rest im Frieden, Jamie!
— Ken M. Apr 19, 04:34 PM #
I have read and seen the storys reporting on the life and senseless death of Jamie Bishop. I simply found him to be an amazing young man, reminding me so much of my own brother-in-law…Could you please forward this to his family and ask them to forward any information to me that they may have in the event that they are planning on setting up any type of scholorship in his honor.
I admire all that I have read about him and I can only pray that my 2 high school age children have the strength and character that Jamie seemed to have. I would like to help his family in any way possible to never let anyone forget the kind of young man that he seemed to be. Jamie’s family should be so proud to have had what appears to such a wonderful person amongst them. My heart goes out to them.
Thank You, Michael— Michael Apr 20, 01:56 AM #
Jamie and I attended UGA together and took 4 quarters of German together. We often spent many nights studying together. He helped me so much. He was so sweet and kind and impacted my life. He was special. May God be with you and your family. Joan Hightower
— joan hightower Apr 20, 11:03 AM #
I had the pleasure of knowing Jamie from way back in high school. He was our class Valedictorian and such a nice person. My heart and prayers go out to his family.
— Veronica Norwood Powell Apr 20, 02:53 PM #
Jamie and I played little league baseball in Pine Mountain on a team coached by my father. I last saw him in Columbus, GA in 1989 when he and I sat for the ACT. Up to that moment, I had not seen him since little league. As I recall, he was taking the ACT for a second time to increase his score. He told me his first score, which was within striking distance of a perfect score. He was a brilliant guy. May God bless his soul.
— Jamie Martez Hill Apr 21, 08:11 PM #
I went through Jr High and High School with Jamie and I can tell you he was loved by all. He was always sweet and kind. He had a beautiful soul. Jamie will be greatly missed.
My heart just breaks for Steffi, Mr. Mike, Ms. Jeri, Stephanie and the rest of the family. You all are in my prayers.
— Lori Hughes Phillips Apr 22, 07:22 PM #
My husband is Thomas Eugene Bishop, also an artist. He is 66 years old and is a native of LaFayette Georgia. He too lightens up any tension with his own jokes. What is even more ironic is that we lost our daughter Jamie Bishop in 1984 to an illness. Our grandaughter Jamie Bishop will begin her freshman year in College in the fall.
I was teaching a piano lesson and it really grabbed my heart strings when I heard his name spoken.— Nellie Gaile Proffitt Bishop Apr 23, 07:40 PM #
Unfassbar! Jamie war mein Englischlehrer und wurde ein sehr guter Freund während seiner Zeit in Heidelberg und auch noch lange Zeit danach. Das letzte Mal haben wir uns in Chappel Hill NC gesehen, wo Ihr Eure Wohnung mit uns geteilt habt und wir einen unvergesslichen Abend zusammen verbrachten.
Jamie, ich werde Dich für immer so in Erinnerung behalten und nie vergessen!
Rest in peace,
Jochen
— Jochen Sigmann Apr 25, 03:39 AM #
I’ve been hearing about the German Teacher at VT and just made the connection that he was once one of my campers when I was a counselor at Camp Glisson many moons ago. We would eventually work together as counselors. I aways admired his quiet, creative spirit but could tell underneath was a great guy with a flair for fun. Jamie was so great with his campers that I can see why his students loved him so much. I just can’t believe this. Take care, old friend. You and your family will be in my thoughts.
— Robby Richardson Apr 25, 11:47 AM #