Obituary of Miriam Taylor Sajkovic

"Miriam “Mim” Taylor Sajkovic Born Miriam Taylor in Collingswood, N.J., 1923, she graduated high school there in the class of 1941; she passed at home in South Hadley, MA, July 1, 2004. Miriam was born to learn, to teach, and to become an inspiring visionary to her many students and friends. Her greatest accomplishments include being a dedicated sister and daughter, and mother to her son Alexey and wife to her husband Professor Vladimir Sajkovic. She received her B.A. degree from Cornell University and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. From Philadelphia the family moved to South Hadley in 1959 where Mr. Sajkovic founded the Russian Department at Mount Holyoke College. As a professor of European civilization, philosophy, ethics and cosmology she began teaching at Holyoke Community College in 1963. Throughout her teaching career she inspired her many students until she retired in the late 1990’s. Many students profited from her instruction and encouragement: to think, to transcend an ordinary life and to become more than they had ever imagined possible. She continually challenged people to grow, to rise to new levels, to push themselves beyond their previously conceived boundaries. An authority on philosophical discourse, she often answered a question with a question and stimulated her students and others to question their assumptions and really work to discover not just truths within themselves but truths about the world around them. She was never one for idle chatter, seeking instead a metaphysical structure upon which to base faith in man’s humanity towards man, while also seeking God’s guidance. She was a tough but fair teacher who allowed her many students to work and rework their assignments. She was kind, thoughtful, and generous; always believing that the possibilities for individual achievement would transcend normal boundaries and benefit humanity at large. She authored Dostoevsky: His Image of Man; and Visionaries of Our Times. Her inventions include Tetrahouse, a childrens’ playhouse and Tetraworld, a’ four dimensional world game’. She is survived by her son Alexey, step-son Tomislav, sisters Dorothy Prey and Jeannette Taylor. Calling hours will be held at Beers and Story Funeral Home at 646 Newton Street in South Hadley on Tuesday, July 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m; followed by a memorial service at 10 a.m.on Wednesday, July 7th at All Saints Church in South Hadley center, across from the post office. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Donations in Miriam Taylor Sajkovic's name can be made to Hospice Lifecare, c/o Karen Anderson, 28 Appleton Street Holyoke, MA 01040, 533-3923. "