"Mon Village," a poem - Cranbrook Review, Fall 1987.

A man who went out of his way to be there for many students. Anyone who was blessed enough to have their life touched by Mr. Dagbovie knows why this man is so special. His genuine love and concern for all those in his life puts him at the top of my list. He always had an ear to bend and always had the right words of comfort and encouragement when they were needed. Mr. Dagbovie, you have touched more lives than you will ever know. I truly miss the time and conversations with you. Howard Davidson, C'84

I never took a class from Mr Dagbovie. Instead, I knew this special man through my sister. Always meticulous, courteous, and thoughtful. A true gentleman.

At the end, it's not about French. It's about how a caring, passionate teacher uses the teaching of his subject to instill deeper qualities in students. As Mr. Choi stated clearly (yo, Robert!), Mr. Dagbovie was a model for us in being a good person. He could drive you with a smile on his face. Articulate, compassionate, humane, and always ready to laugh. Any good qualities I've had as a teacher of film can be traced in part to him.

"If you read the news, you know!" - That's what Mr. Dagbovie used to tell us when we didn't know the answers in his french tests. That was in 1979, when my brother and i were in his french class. I wonder if that's still what he says with that special grin... Well, i kept that wisdom in mind over the years and it has helped along quite well. Thanks, Mr. Dagbovie! Stefan Goes, Luebeck, Germany.

I had the pleasure of being in two of Mr. Dagbovie's math classes his first year at Cranbrook. He was easily the best math teacher I ever had, and he helped several of us survive our French classes with other (less effective) teachers. I'm glad to hear He and his wife are still at Cranbrook helping to shape minds and lives. Bon chance!

I remember Mr. Dagbovie vividly as an energetic, committed, demanding teacher, as well as a great representative of what we all should strive towards: a good person. He was as inspiring as he was entertaining as our French teacher and truly taught me the meaning of hard work. Even twenty years later I still hear his distinctive voice ringing in my ears!

Mr. Dagbovie, thanks for being the role model for Black male students!!! You wore ties every day when other faculty did not. You always addressed me the same as you did the White students. I now know...you taught me 2 fundamental success skills for Corporate America. Always stay true to your personal style, which should be impeccable, and always show equal respect to everyone even when that respect is not reciprocated! While French was not a forte of mine, the life lessons were invaluable!

Mr. Dagbovie's french class was the first class I attended on my first day at Cranbrook. Intimidating is my first thought....challenging would be my second and finally inspiring! What I took away from my courses with Mr, Dagbovie inspired and prepared me to not only elect French as a minor at University but also gave me a confidence and strong base for years later when I moved to Italy and had to learn to speak fluent Italian. I am now preparing to live in Paris for awhile, and, once again, find myself impressed with my knowledge and understanding of the French language.

I never met a man so committed to teaching students as Mr. Dagbovie. Even more than the class, I will forever remember his mannerisms and his phrases, as well as always pining for the holy grail in his class: Getting a bon-bon. The bon-bons themselves were terrible, but the fact that you got one really meant you did something special. I will never forget his heart-rendering performance of La Marseilles. He didnt just teach french, he made sure that we understood and could speak it. Even after not speaking french for years, I still am able to hold conversations with native french speakers. As a class advisor, I remember him as someone who strived to make sure that we held core values.

Prospero Dagbovie -- His sincerity, kindness and gentleness had a very great effect on me. He was encouraging -- even nagging -- when necessary, and such a sweet soul.

Mr. Dagbovie was my first French teacher, and later became my counselor. He was fantastic and always told me what I needed to hear in a straightforward manner. In my memories of Cranbrook, he stands out for me.

I was closest to the Dagbovies. Mrs. Dagbovie was my advisor, Mr. Dagbovie was my teacher, and their son Pero was my friend. They were (and no doubt still are) an incredibly warm, interesting family who took great care of me.

Mr. Dagbovie had a big influence on me -- he really made me over-prepare for French class because he was never shy about pop quizzes. I still make sure all my ducks are in a row when I'm called on for anything.

Mr. Dagbovie helped to teach me that learning for it's own sake was a worthy endeavor, that the final grade was not the most important outcome of a class. Thus the journey of learning and the actual knowledge obtained were not always reflected by the final grade.