“His class, filled with dusty old movies, taught me to see the possible and reminded me that an average radio broadcaster from a small Alabama town can make it in this industry.”

So read University of Alabama student Kyle David Pierce’s Facebook status when he learned of the death of Gary Copeland, a retired department chair and professor in the department of telecommunication and film.

Copeland, who died over the weekend, retired in the summer of 2011 following a career of 30 years at the University. According to the College of Communication and Information Sciences, he wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren, his “first love.”

“His class was the first media/film class that I took once I got to college. I came in as a political science major,” said Pierce, now a junior studying telecommunication and film management. “In his class, my biggest take away was the idea that film and media can be created by real people, and that could be some of us.”

For Pierce, though, Copeland’s influence far exceeded the classroom.

President of the Tuscaloosa Kiwanis Club at one time, Copeland was an active member of the community and encouraged Pierce to become active in Circle K, the College Branch of the Kiwanis Club.

“The biggest mark he made on me was his commitment to service and the community. He loved film, but he loved the community as much, if not more,” Pierce said. “The whole time he was sick, he never stopped in service through Kiwanis, and I’ve only been to a handful of Tuscaloosa Kiwanis Meetings that he wasn’t at welcoming people, especially those of us who visited from Circle K.”

Telecommunication and film program assistant Mary Lou Cox said she is at a loss of words to describe what the loss means to the department.

“Words cannot express how this department feels with this passing,” Cox said. “For me, he was an awesome boss. I couldn’t ask for anything better. It’s just devastating, that’s all I can say.”

Loy Singleton, the dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, said in a press release that Copeland possessed the rare combination of humor and welcoming personality with intellect and accomplishment.

“Gary would have laughed out loud if anyone described him as ‘beloved,’ but he certainly was, by many of his students and colleagues here at UA and across the nation,” Singleton said.

Singleton might find evidence for his statement from the outpouring of support from former students, colleagues and friends have shown in the Facebook group “Friends of Gary.”

Many former students write of Copeland’s willingness to assist students. He never shied away from helping a freshman.

According to Pierce, Copeland never changed.

“He was a great professor,” Pierce said. “We were all freshmen, and he was a department chair, but he treated us like real people.”

Editor’s Note: In the original version of this story, Loy Singleton was incorrectly identified as the chair of the telecommunication and film department. The Crimson White regrets the error and is happy to set the record straight.