Reprinting and reuniting

Tad Devlin ’67 carried one book around from his UD days until it fell apart. His mentor and former professor wrote it, and her teachings jumpstarted Devlin’s passion for filmmaking.

When he lost his battered copy of Getting Started: A Preface to Writing after decades of use, Devlin set out to find Eleanore “Ellie” Stockum, English professor emerita, to reconnect and get a new copy of her book.

Devlin had been busy making a name for himself in Hollywood as assistant director, production manager and producer on films including D3: The Mighty Ducks, When a Man Loves a Woman, George of the Jungle, Annie Hall and Sleeping with the Enemy.

But he always remembered his beginnings at UD and Stockum.

“She was somebody special, and you don’t usually get that,” Devlin said. “She was just a super great teacher.”

As he traveled around the country, he searched for her, eventually finding her in Washington, D.C.

“I always thought of her all my life,” Devlin said. “When I got into Hollywood and I’d finally become a guy that was making movies, I said, ‘I want to go see Ellie and say thank you.’”

Devlin got his chance to express his gratitude and ask Stockum for a new copy of her book. She had only one left, but she gave it to him anyway. He said he decided at that moment he was going to get her the credit she deserved for the book that changed his life.

“Then I said, ‘I’m going to pay you back. I’m going to re-put this thing in publication,’” Devlin said.

He got the book back into publication and sent Stockum 40 copies.

Stockum said she was overjoyed to receive them. Now 96, she lives in a senior living community in Washington, D.C., but said she sends her love to Devlin and hopes to see him soon.

Devlin and Stockum shared a phone call last year, giving them both a chance to reconnect and talk about the book.

“When I talked to Ellie, I said, ‘Ellie, you weren’t just a teacher; you were a mentor and you made my life. I probably would never have had this if I hadn’t had you,’” Devlin said. “I wouldn’t think that I would have had the ability to get through to Hollywood without what she [taught] me.”