I first read the name of Alfred Schutz in a footnote in an article by Harold Garfinkel which a colleague at Indiana gave me to read around 1960.1 Schutz and phenomenology were not known to me prior to that time. I then began to read phenomenology.
Another of Garfinkel's papers introduced the name of Herbert Spiegelberg. 2 From this reading I learned that Spiegelberg was also connected to phenomenology.
In 1963 I moved to Washington University. Herbert also arrived that year. I had only just begun to read in phenomenology and the idea of meeting a living, breathing, phenomenological philosopher such as Herbert Spiegelberg made me tremble. It took me at least a year to summon the courage to call him and to introduce myself.
Then, to my amazement, I found a warm and kind, friendly and modest human being. He was interested in learning more about me and my interests, how I had come to phenomenology via my introduction to Schutz via Garfmkel, and what developments were occurring in sociology. I found over the next few years at Washington University, a genuine colleague, mentor and friend.
First, some remembrances of Herbert. He had, for many years, suffered with cataracts. These were becoming worse. He was having difficulty seeing. I remember once seeing him walking erratically down the sidewalk. I was certain he would trip and fall. But it was clear that he did not wish to be offered help. He was an independent spirit. He sailed along as though the pitch and roll in his walking were due to the fortunes of the winds and waves.