[Milton-L] Dr. Albert Labriola

[Stephen Fallon]

Among the many tasks that Al Labriola shouldered in and for the Milton  
Society was that of unofficial eulogist.  At MSA dinners he would  
speak eloquently of one or another of our number whose journey's end  
was come. He knew himself to sing.  I am sure that many old friends  
will strive for the honor of sending Al off at the 2009 dinner, and I  
can imagine more than one stepping to the podium.  If only one can  
speak, I'm sure that many of us would like to hear from Michael Lieb.

My first encounter with Al, at an MSA dinner in the early 80s,  
resembled that of others who have commented today.  Here was a "name,"  
an accomplished and established Miltonist, who exerted himself to make  
a green, unpublished graduate student feel at home.  One could not  
help but sense both his gravity and his kindness.  It took a bit  
longer, for me at least, to realize that his pose of unusual formality  
contained a healthy dollop of self-deprecating humor.  Al, who could  
be the most dryly funny of Miltonists, was capable of sending himself  
up.  I'll never forget his suggestion that we telephone each other  
("we must establish telephonic communication").  We did not merely  
both work at Catholic universities, we were "both employed by Catholic  
institutions of higher learning."  His humor was always good-humored,  
and I don't recall him being less than generous to others.

He was a scholar and a gentleman.

Steve Fallon