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I had heard about Dr. Hrabowski’s legendary memory, and I’d often marveled at his ability to remember students’ majors and stories as he’d randomly encounter them walking across campus. But I didn’t realize the extent of—and how he used—his gift until two elevator rides several years apart. We work in the same building, so occasionally (when he doesn’t take the 10 flights of stairs), we’ll share an elevator. On one ride he asked about vacation plans and I told him I was going to visit my sister in Paris. “Ah, vous parlez français,” and off he went in perfect French. Three years later, I was once again in the elevator with him, along with a Haitian student who had been to see him. Freeman looked at me and, without warning, immediately launched into French, engaging the three of us in conversation. (I managed, but luckily it was only 8 floors.)

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