Robert Maguire

[cn29 at COLUMBIA.EDU]

Dear Michael,

I think you sent your eloquent comments to the wrong Cathy.  Cathy
Popkin is putting together the booklet and has done all the
(fantastic) work arranging the memorial service.  I'm cc'ing her so
she'll get your text.  FYI, Your last paragraph resonates nicely
with the opening paragraph of my comments on Bob!  I look forward
to seeing you next week and all the best, Cathy (N)

Quoting "Michael S. Flier" <flier at FAS.HARVARD.EDU>:

> Dear Cathy,
>
> This is probably too late, but here are a few quick thoughts
> about Bob, in
> case there is still time to include them:
>
>
> Bob Maguire was an amazing combination of intelligence and wit.
> It was
> always a joy to be in his company.  I never taught with him as a
> colleague
> (he was on leave during my visiting appointment to Columbia in
> the fall of
> 1988---in fact, I was housed in his office), but I tried to make
> time to
> see him whenever Pat and I were in the City, usually over dinner
> and
> possibly including a Broadway show. Inevitably he would arrive
> off the
> subway with a German novel in hand, doing all that he could to
> keep his
> German active in light of the considerable time he spent with
> Russian texts.
>
> He was a superb translator from Russian and Polish, fascinated by
> the
> intricacies of language and style.  He was a meticulous editor,
> who
> generously devoted his time to edit two collections of articles
> published
> as American contributions to the International Congress of
> Slavists.  His
> original research on early Soviet literature and on Gogol stands
> out for
> its insight, balanced perspective, and humor.
>
> Bob was a great conversationalist at dinner, demonstrating
> erudition in all
> manner of subjects, from world literature to art, from history to
> music.  A
> first-class violist and an inveterate opera queen, Bob was the
> first person
> you would consult for recommendations on recordings of classical
> music,
> especially opera.  Bob was a wonderful raconteur and reveled in
> jokes and
> anecdotes, especially those told in a foreign accent.  His
> Russian
> impressions were unsurpassed.
>
> And he loved to talk.  To get on the phone with Bob was to commit
> yourself
> to at least one hour of conversation, but what an hour!  By the
> time you
> were through, you had laughed, argued, reminisced, and speculated
> about
> everything under the sun.  I will truly miss his bright smile and
> wicked
> laugh. New York will never be the same.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Michael
>
>
>
> At 11:02 AM 8/27/2005, you wrote:
> >We are putting together a small booklet of tributes
> to/reminiscences of
> >Robert Maguire to have on hand the day of his memorial service
> (Sept. 15).
> >If any of you who worked with him (or simply knew and cared for
> him) have
> >anything
> >to contribute that you think should be known and remembered
> about him,
> >please send
> >me a few lines by Sept. 2.
> >
> >Thank you.
> >The details of the service are repeated below.
> >
> >Cathy Popkin
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >There will be a memorial service for Robert Maguire in New York
> on
> >Thursday, September 15, 2005, beginning with a requiem mass at
> the Church
> >of Notre Dame (Morningside Drive and W. 114th St.) at 9:45 a.m.,
> followed
> >by a service at St. Paul's Chapel (on the Columbia Campus) at
> 11:00 a.m.
> >The Slavic Department and the Harriman Institute will be hosting
> an
> >informal gathering afterward.  I hope that the many of you who
> have
> >written to express your sadness and to inquire about a memorial
> will be
> >able to attend.
> >
> >
> >
>
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> ____________________________________________
>
> PROF. MICHAEL S. FLIER
> Oleksandr Potebnja Professor of Ukrainian Philology
>
> Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures
> Harvard University
> Barker Center, 12 Quincy Street
> Cambridge, MA 02138
>
>
>                        <<<<<<>>>>>>
>
>
> TEL.    (617) 495-4065 [Slavic Department]
> TEL.    (617) 495-4054 [Linguistics Department]
> TEL.    (617) 495-4053 [Ukrainian Research Institute]
> FAX     (617) 945-2168 [private]
> WEB
> http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~slavic/faculty/michael_flier.html
>
> ____________________________________________
>
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