(KAIR)--Benedictine College Emeritus Professor of History, Rupert Pate, is being remembered this week, with social media pages of former students posting fond recollections of their time with Pate, who died March 2. Pate, a resident of Lawrence, Kansas, was 87-years-old at the time of his death.

According to his recently released obituary from the Warren-McElwain Mortuary & Cremation Services, of Lawrence, Pate graduated college from the Citadel, joined the United States Army, served two years in the Vietnam War, as well as two years in South Korea, then taught at the Command General Staff College, at Fort Leavenworth, prior to beginning his years at Benedictine College.

Among those sharing online memories of Pate is Abbot James Albers, OSB, of the Benedictine Abbey, and a former student of Pate. Like others reflecting on their time spent with him, Abbot Albers notes Pate's "genuine concern" for his students, adding that Pate's use of stories, connecting the present with the past, taught Albers "the gift and importance of sharing one's story," saying he gives thanks to Pate's example of "gentleness, desire for learning, and love of history."

Among Pate's survivors are his wife, Deb.

Pate's family will host a celebration of life in his memory, on September 29, at the Cider Gallery, in Lawrence.