Only today, nearly a year later, did I learn of Prof. John Post's passing.  However late, I do want to add a note because few if any human beings have had a more profound impact on my life than this special person.

As a history major at NU from '68-'73 I took as many classes as I could with Prof. Post, as he inspired and provoked alternative thinking in a way that transformed how I approached life.  I looked forward to each and every class he taught and was never disappointed.

Following graduation I attended NU's Law School and learned that his comprehensive and thoughtful recommendation on my behalf to the law school was a major factor in my being accepted to study the law.  I hope to read it some day.

I was fortunate in the past few years to spend a little time with Prof. Post, taking him to lunch and dinners.  I marveled at the fire-in-the-belly he still had for demography and the history of populations.  He shared with me his "new focus" on viruses and their effect on human evolution.  If ever a man found his calling, it was Prof. Post, he so loved his profession.

Prof. Post taught me to think, critically and abstractly, avoiding norms and rote.  I now run a national organization that helps underserved populations build wealth and to live into the kind of life that they vision for themselves.  This is what Dr. Post did for me early in my tenure at NU, to believe in myself and in my ability to make a difference in the lives of many, as he did.

I will be forever grateful to this wonderful and warm human being I will never forget him.

John Taylor
www.ncrc.org

With great regret, I only recently learned of John's death. He and I were colleagues and friends at Northeastern for many years. I admired him greatly for his knowledge, his keen mind, and his humane concern for people. I will miss the great conversations that we had during my visits to him. He never lost interest in knowing about the world and in caring about how well or badly things were going.

The thing I remember about Professor Post is that he taught me to look at things differently. His background was different from most professors and he challenged us to no accept things. The picture of him in his Red robes and the one with the dark framed glasses are the ones that remind me most of him and my time with him at Northeastern from 1968-1973. I often look for the European Marriage Pattern and remember him fondly.
Walter Boyd

John Post was my father, and very much a hero to me.  I can't imagine how life will go on without him - his passing has left a great hole in my life.

John and Ruth moved into this building at the same time we did more than two decades ago. We first became aware of our neighbors through listening to Ruth play the piano and last by fetching prescriptions for John from the local drug store. In between we shared kitty stories and were frequently regaled by John's wonderful and informative stories about weather and its effect on people throughout the last two centuries. John was a wonderful neighbor and will be sorely missed. In this city it is rare to have such a longstanding relationship with one's neighbor and we are very grateful to have had that with John and Ruth.

A great teacher. He changed the way a lot of us look at history.

John Post was a special family member who offered his loving wisdom to all of us. With his late brother Ellsworth and sister Letteria, John Post was a close companion to his cousin, my late husband John Lenna Swenson, during their growing up years. All three boys saw military service during WWII and returned safely to make their own families. In more recent years John Post graced our holiday dinners to visit with his sister Letteria, “Sis”, offering his sparkling, often erudite, conversation and wit. It is good to know John is now at peace, but he will be very much missed by his sister Letteria, my daughter Sarah, and me, all of us in the Swenson family who felt his presence in our lives. Our caring thoughts are with his daughters during this their time of loss, and always.

I'm so sad that John has left us. I will miss him, his remarkable mind, great conversation, and thoughtful concern for my life. Cousin Sarah

MY CONDOLENCES TO THE POST FAMILY. I ENJOYED ALL DR. POST'S CLASSES WHILE AT NORTHEASTERN

Though I only knew John in later years, my time with him was always enlightening and interesting. He will be greatly missed.

We are so very sorry to hear of Dr. Post's passing last Friday.  We were in Maine and only heard about his death about 1/2 hour ago.  Our deepest sympathies ; we are so very sorry to lose a special friend. We will remember him always- may his memory be eternal. I would have liked to have seen him once again to thank him for all he taught me each time I visited him here in our condo building.

OBITUARY

John D Post

December 31, 1925 – August 31, 2012

J.S. Waterman Langone Chapel

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