When I joined the orchestra, I already knew everybody to begin with. Many of them I've known from my earliest recollection. Undoubtedly they remember things I did when I was 5. But that's part of life. When a teacher has a student replace him, it can be inhibiting to the student.
Some people have a hard time letting go.
It can be sticky. I've had a pretty smooth ride here. I studied with him at Curtis and then played 10 or 12 years at other places. We didn't work together. But anytime there's a viola solo, he appears.