老司机福利网

Faculty Emerita Tanya Storch, known for her inspired teaching style and insightful research into Asian religions, died March 7 in New Mexico at the age of 68.

Storch taught at 老司机福利网 for 23 years, starting as an assistant professor in 2000 in what was then the Department of Religious Studies. Her academic specialty was Chinese Buddhism, but she also taught and was well-versed in many of the world鈥檚 religious traditions.

鈥淭anya was a highly respected scholar of great intelligence and keen insight,鈥� said Professor of History Alan Lenzi, a former colleague. In addition to her 鈥減ath-breaking research,鈥� Lenzi described her as a beloved teacher who inspired countless students and an accomplished poet.

鈥淎bove all these things, what stands out most to me is that Tanya was a unique, generous, lovely human being who greeted everyone with an open mind, a kind heart, and, often, with hands folded in front of her slightly bowing head. There was no one like Tanya,鈥� Lenzi said.

An accomplished linguist and polyglot, Storch could speak more than eight languages and was able to read and translate others, including Greek, Latin, Sanskrit and Old Chinese.

She wrote several books, including 鈥淭he History of Chinese Buddhist Bibliography: Censorship and Transformation of the Tripitaka鈥� and a textbook for dream interpretation, called 鈥淭extbook in Dream Analysis for College and University Students.鈥� She wrote poetry in Russian and English.

鈥淭anya Storch was an amazingly gifted intellectual who also had a remarkable ability to get students to immerse themselves in the material,鈥� said Professor of Philosophy George Randels. 鈥淪he made connections with the diverse local religious communities, which was beneficial to those communities as well as key for educating students about religious traditions. Tanya was a great asset to Pacific and Stockton, and I mourn her loss.鈥�

Storch viewed her efforts to connect Pacific with local houses of worship as her most important service. She fostered connections with the Cambodian, Lao-Hmong, Chinese and Sikh communities in Stockton as well as the synagogue Temple Israel and the Japanese Pure Land temple.

Former student Clara Gallagher 鈥�11 described her as 鈥渢he teacher you always wanted.鈥� The two developed a close friendship after her graduation. Gallagher recalls guest speakers who would show cultural demonstrations to the class and visits to temples to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students.

鈥淚 witnessed her bring students alive who you wouldn鈥檛 think would come alive in these classes,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e doing it because it鈥檚 a prerequisite, but they walked out of it in love with her courses.鈥�

Storch began her study of Asian religions in St. Petersburg where she was born and raised, earning a master鈥檚 degree in East Asian Studies from the University of St. Petersburg. She was among the last refugees from the Soviet Union shortly before its collapse.

She and her family lived in Rome for a short time before immigrating to the United States in the early 1990s. She attended the University of Pennsylvania where she earned a PhD in East Asian studies and taught at the University of Florida before joining Pacific.

鈥檚 experience studying religion in the former Soviet Union and subsequent interrogations by the KGB.

Former colleague Elena Savelieva-Thompson, who also grew up in St. Petersburg, was one of the first people to meet Storch when she joined Pacific. 鈥淪he was a strong woman,鈥� she said. 鈥淪trong willed and physically strong,鈥� adding that, 鈥渉er students absolutely adored her. She was a wonderful, wonderful teacher.鈥�

Storch leaves behind her husband and two sons, both Pacific alumni.