İpek Merçil
My dear Professor Barlas Tolan is bidding farewell to Galatasaray once again from this very pier where, at the age of eleven, he first fell in love with it.
“An incurable Galatasaray devotee.” I believe that, among all the other qualities that could be used to describe him, these are the words that define him best.
Professor Barlas’s attachment to Galatasaray was not exclusive but inclusive. He considered everyone who loved Galatasaray and worked for Galatasaray to be a true member of the Galatasaray community; he welcomed them into his heart, his home, and his table.
At the long dinners we shared in his home, our Professor taught us how to enjoy life together and, while enjoying ourselves, how to accomplish serious things. At those tables, where we were hosted with every imaginable delicacy—including the shrimp he cooked himself—every unit of our University was represented. We founded the Department of Sociology through joy, laughter, and the memories we created together.
Our Professor never addressed us by our names; he called each one of us “my child.” He listened to us sincerely and understood our joys and our sorrows. Even when we were at our most inexperienced, he respected our wildest ideas and supported our projects. He allowed us to pursue our dreams and to develop ourselves independently. He would always remind us of what we had achieved and made us feel valued.
At the University, you could recognize Professor Barlas’s presence as soon as you entered the Faculty of Arts and Sciences: you would smell his cigarette smoke. His door was always open, and in the mornings he would sit and chat with his old friend Mr. Öğüt. His presence made us feel safe; it gave us the privilege of taking our time to grow and mature.
Dear Professor, as the members of the Department of Sociology, our commitment to the founding principles of our University comes from the love of Galatasaray that you instilled in us.
As we say goodbye to you, if you ask how we are doing, I would say:
un peu mieux que le gendre d’intérieur
(“a little better than the stay-at-home son-in-law”).
We are sending you on your final journey with love, respect, countless beautiful memories, and a huge smile in our hearts.
İpek MERÇİL
Professor
Galatasaray University
Department of Sociology