Richard Kamka Obituary

I have a great memory of Mr. Kamka in his humanities class in 1975. A few us us on the baseball were inspired by Mr. Kamka to make a short baseball film which we made to the Scott Jopin tune, The Enterainer. Mr. Kamka loved our film and had us play it for his other period classes. He also inspired me to open my mind to the timeliness jazz music of Dave Brubeck. To this day I think of Mr. Kamka whenever I play "Take Five".

I was thinking about my 50 years since I was at York and the teachers I had back then . The one that still stands out was Mr. Kamka. So many things I remember today about poetry and literature came from his class. While I pursued science, I couldn't help but also pursue a minor in English. I was thinking about him the other day and thought I would Google him and see if he remained at York. So sorry to discover he has passed. He will not be forgotten by his many students. RIP

Richard Kamka opened my mind to the world around me more than anybody before, or since. At York High, he taught me to feel my feelings, even if I couldn't yet justify them. Although at first I found him different, he impacted my development in a positive way more than any other teacher. He enabled me to become a far more well rounded individual. Thank you Richard.

I took Richard's Humanities class at York, class of 72, mostly because it was known for appreciating music, and I was in a rock'n'roll band.

I was the child of a conservative family, but rebelling, facing Vietnam. I was looking for truth. I was very right brained. Literal. The Engineering type. Richard introduced me to the left brained, abstract side of thought. Through his class, I learned that I needed to listen to my feelings, that feelings meant something, and needed to be pursued. Richard made a huge impact on my life.

Sorry I couldn't tell you my self Richard.

Marty Hewes.

Mr Kanka was a great teacher, loved how he taught to broaden our horrzions and find our love of new things.

Movies and music will dim slightly for the passing of Kamka.

...nutdoughs, Judy Roberts, fighter planes, irreverence and his cool old car...

He taught me how to see and to hear.

He was, indeed, a teacher. The best.

How many lives did he enrich? Imagine how far that carries...

He changed my life. No, he gave me something to live for, at a time when I doubted.

Thanks, Kamka.

I was listening to a Mose Alison record this morning and thinking about the man who introduced me to his music in a long ago humanities class. I wanted to tell Mr. Kamka that I'm now teaching (college writing classes) and use many of his lessons and the relaxed teaching style he used when trying to open up our teen-age minds to the world around us. I'm sorry I missed him. I'm posting this so his family knows that his legacy continues. Perhaps some of my students will one day pick up Kamka's mantle and continue what he started--teaching beauty.

It has taken me days to come to terms with a loss that I may never come to terms with. My film appreciation and humanities class with Mr Kampka made me the person that I am today. I cannot find words to describe the debt I owe him. He shall be deeply missed by myself and many other friends of Harry Lime. My heartfelt condolences to his family and others who will miss him.

Deepest condolences to the Kamka family. Mr. Kamka was a passionate and inspirational teacher. I count myself among the lucky who had him for Humanities at York.

"You can't blow your nose in a piece of Kleenex and call it 'art.' That's not art!"

I was truly blessed to have taken Mr. Kamka's Humanities class 35 years ago . What an experience , such an eye opener to the world around me musically , architecturally ,etc. One of the best decisions I ever made was to go on Mr. Kamka's field trip instead of taking advantage of "senior ditch day" . My sympathies to the family on the loss of such an extraordinary man.

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

Throw all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Pet. 5:7)

Mr. Kamka was indeed my favorite teacher. He was so well equipped to add context, clarity and even more importantly, joy to all the art he showed us in his classes. I will never forget some of my projects for humanities class like setting the pictures I took of the Drake hotel to the music of Copland's Appalachian Spring. Also, I would never of known the greatness of ballet, without our trip to see Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room. In our Motion Pictures class, recreating scenes of the Maltese Falcon with my father, or watching La Jetee, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari or Once upon a time in the West, all still favorites of mine today. He always made going to High School so much more bearable for me and others who just adored his classes and the times he would stay after school with us to just talk art, movies or music and he would knock us out with his signature laugh, which I think of every time I look at a piece of art that impresses me. Thank you so very much.
Michael Bondmass

Mr. Kamka's class was a life altering event. It is now almost 45 years since I sat in his humanities class and the environment and lessons he created there still resonate in me. Mr. Kamka woke us up to life and all its potential glories. I wish I could say that I have honored his vision more completely in my life. But I guess he probably would just tell me "it's not too late." Peace to you Mr. Kamka.

Mr. Kamka was an individual who had a profound and lasting impact in my life. It has been 45 years since I had the good fortune to take his Humanities class at York H.S.; during that time there have been countless moments of creative inspiration as a direct result of his teaching. I will always think of him as the man who opened my eyes to the world. Thank you Mr. Kamka for your kindness and intellect. Thank you for being the teacher you were.

Mister Kamka made me think about art and film in a new way. I still think of the things he taught me about art and film all the time. He had an enthusiasm for his subject that was so infectious. His humanities class made me excited to go to school. He was a great man.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Kamka family this week with this huge loss.

Mr. K was hands down my favorite teacher and he profoundly influenced the way I see and hear art. His influence remains with me to this day.

Ed Ronne

I cannot squeeze the meaning of fifty-seven years of friendship into a short note. My heart is empty. Thanks to the Kamka family for sharing Richard with me.Deepest sympathies from Patti and I.

Thank you so much, Mr. Kamka. You taught me so many things that remain with me today. You truly broadened my worldview. May you rest in peace.

My deepest sympathy to his family and close friends.

Sincerely,

Matthew D. Garmager and the Garmager family.

Mr. Kamka taught one of my most memorable classes I had at York, my Humanities class. Most memorable not only because of the classes content, but because of the way he taught the class...the way he was able to pull your thoughts/creativity out and get you to see the world in new ways you wouldn't have thought before. Thank you, Mr. Kamka, for your inspiration and for giving us students a non traditional approach to learning.

Susan Linhart Kovanda, '75

A teacher who was a great influence and who will always be remembered with fondness, humor and admiration. A great human being.

Humanities is one of the classes I fondly remember about High School. We took a great Field Trip to the Art Institute and then bought lunch from a food stand, by the lake. Mr. Kamka bought fried smelt and kept saying how delicious it was. I also remember he wrote notes to a stranger about their antique Volvo, because he wanted to buy it. He would leave notes on the windshield. I think he did it for a few years before the stranger broke down and finally did sell it to him. Those are silly stories, but illustrate that he had passion for everything.

One time he asked us, if a machine could sing exactly like you, or play an instrument exactly like you, would you keep singing, would you keep playing? The class went back and forth about it for a while and he said, "you should definitely still sing/play, because it's YOU that is making the music. Don't EVER give that up to a machine." What a wise man. RIP, Mr. Kamka.