Feyza Ak Akyol
Losing someone we love leaves a lifelong feeling of sadness and longing. As those who loved and respected Professor Barlas, I know that we will continue to live with this sorrow. Therefore, today I would like to speak about why we will miss him.
Professor Barlas was a deeply humane person who valued those around him. He was selective when making commitments, but once he gave his word, he always kept it. While doing all this, he also paid great attention to the rules of courtesy. He was truly a very kind and considerate person.
Professor Barlas had an extraordinary sense of humor. He was capable of carrying out serious work without taking himself too seriously. He had both the ability and the courage to make jokes about everything—including himself.
Professor Barlas was a visionary. Through the vision he put forward and the dedication he showed during the founding period of the University, he played an important role in the success of our institution. He remained throughout his life a true “Galatasaray enthusiast” and became the “Founding Head of the Department” of Sociology. The department he established has today become the second most preferred Sociology Department in Turkey among nearly 50 Sociology Departments.
Finally, he was a true Galatasaray member. For many years, he worked with dedication and selflessness for Galatasaray institutions, and he never hesitated to give back to Galatasaray what he had received from it.
Like all great people, I believe that we were not able to benefit enough from his presence during his lifetime. Today, we remember with affection our respected elder, our professor, our brother, and our father figure, Barlas Tolan. We owe so much to his existence that we will always feel his absence…
I am so grateful that Professor Barlas Tolan was my mentor. I am so grateful to have known him.
Feyza AK AKYOL
Associate Professor
Galatasaray University
Department of Sociology