Steve Antonie added this message on July 27, 2010:

I had the pleasure and enormous privilege of taking Dr. Pershing's last taught sociology course at SDSU. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to take such an intriguing, informational and valuable course with such a talented woman. I send all my love and warmest regards to all who knew her. I will hold the education I received from her very close to me.

Jerrie C. Rhoads added this message on July 27, 2010:

Dearest Jana, I hate that you left us all so young. I will miss your sweet smile and laughter. You were a real trooper right up until the end. You were a very strong young woman. I would have loved to have spent another holiday with you and my son. Thank you for your loving spirit. Always, Mother Jerrie

Catherine (Joy Lester) Burris added this message on July 27, 2010:

I just heard about Jana's passing and wanted to say how sorry I am to hear.I went to school with her and she will be greatly missed by all. Jana was always kind to me in school we had many of the same friends. My prayers and thoughts are with all of you as you grieve for a wounderful soul.

Zak Kuhn added this message on July 27, 2010:

Dan, our thoughts and prayers are with you and Jana always. The spirit of your wonderful partner is free at last. May peace be with you and with her.

Jill Smith added this message on July 27, 2010:

Dan and Jana's Family,
Although I did not know Jana personally, my daughter Rachel,a previous student,spoke highly of her often. I DO know that she respected and admired Jana for many reasons. Her strength, compassion for animals, her love of nature just to name a few. Jana DID make a difference. We are so sad for the loss of such a loving person and please know our prayers are with you.

Gregorio Pantoja added this message on July 27, 2010:

It was only two years ago, that I was fortunate enough to take "Teaching Sociology" with Jana, and even more fortunate to meet her. Although knowing about her condition she never allowed any of us to see how deeply she was effected by her disease, instead she only emanated strength and optimism. She expected nothing but the best from us and encouraged us as much as she did with herself. I really respected her for her achievements in academia, her intelligence, and most of all her ability to understand multiple perspectives on topic. It is such a tragedy that this world has lost Jana. As a recent graduate seeking a profession in education, I am proud to say her ideas and knowledge will live in me as I look to teach my students.

Sharon Gerczyk (former student) added this message on July 27, 2010:

I wanted to convey my condolences to Jana's family and friends and also to say how inspirational this memorial site is. What an amazing way to communicate the many experiences of Jana. I only wish there had been more about how she inspired her students and so I will include that here. I had the pleasure of taking a graduate course with Jana that she was very passionate about called Teaching Sociology. It was one of the few times that the program had offered it and I was fortunate enough to take it with her. I learned from her what was really important about teaching, both from her course and from her example. She provided me with guidance that continues to spur on my teaching career to this day. I also had the fortune to have Jana serve as Chair for my graduate thesis. Despite struggling with her illness at the time, Jana always made time to assist and guide me through the thesis process and provided me with a wealth of support and guidance even though she herself was suffering. I feel very fortunate to have been able to share those educational experiences with her before she retired from teaching and just wanted to convey my thanks to her for inspiring me, guiding me, and sharing with me on my own educational journey.

Sharon

"A teacher affects eternity:
she can never tell where her influence stops."
Henry Adams

Leah Marer Wiley added this message on July 27, 2010:

Jana and I were friends, neighbors and classmates in Bloomington, IN. In her honor, I would like to submit this poem by Rainer Maria Rilke:

BUDDHA IN GLORY

Center of all centers, core of cores,
almond self-enclosed, and growing sweet--
all this universe, to the furthest stars
all beyond them, is your flesh, your fruit.

Now you feel how nothing clings to you;
your vast shell reaches into endless space,
and there the rich, thick fluids rise and flow.
Illuminated in your infinite peace,

a billion stars go spinning through the night,
blazing high above your head.
But in you is the presence that
will be, when all the stars are dead.

Shanda Angioli (former student) added this message on July 27, 2010:

I love studying crime so I enrolled in a Sociology of Murder course. Knowing that I was not going to receive credit for this course since I was a graduate student and the course was for undergraduates only, I was a little skeptical about taking the course. That skepticism quickly faded after sitting in on my first couple of lectures with Jana. Although Jana was a quiet person, it was very obvious to me how passionate she was about teaching. I absolutely loved attending her lectures and I no longer cared about not receiving credits. When Jana found out that I was a graduate student, she asked me to be her graduate reader for the following semester. When her department didn’t have the funding to pay me for this position, Jana offered to pay me out of her own pocket. When I found out she was teaching a Sociology of Teaching graduate course (a class she fought long and hard to get approved by SDSU), I jumped at the opportunity to take that course. It was during that course that Jana asked me to co-author a paper w/her. I was honored that she asked me to work w/her. Unfortunately, because of her illness, I didn’t get the opportunity to co-author that paper. I know I could have learned so much more from her had I gotten that opportunity. I am grateful for what she did teach me. Thank you so much Jana for everything! You were truly a wonderful and amazing person. I hope one day to take all that you have given me and to teach with as much passion as you did. You will be truly missed.

Janet Tapp added this message on July 27, 2010:

Jana, I did not have the privilege of meeting you, but I have had the privilege of meeting and becoming friends with your wonderful parents, and as you were aware, to know them is to love them. I have watched their eyes sparkle when they talked about you (and Jimmy) and your accomplishments, and I have also seen much sadness in their eyes when they talked about your declining health.
As I read through your guestbook, I can see that you have been a very special person to many. You have touched so many lives in so many ways.
Life is not always about the 'quantity' of years we have on this earth, but rather what we do with those years we are given. Without question, you lived a full and rich life in your short 41 years.
My sympathy to Jim, Patricia, Jimmy and Dan. Although Jana will be missed by many, none more than the four you.
Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
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