[Milton-L] Al Labriola's memorial service

[Jeffrey Shoulson]

Dear Rich,

Thanks for sharing this moving account.

Jeffrey

Jeffrey S. Shoulson, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of English and Judaic Studies
University of Miami
PO Box 248145
Coral Gables, FL 33124-4632

(o) 305-284-5596
(f) 305-284-5635

jshoulson at miami.edu
www.as.miami.edu/english/people/#jshoulson



On Mar 18, 2009, at 1:43 PM, Richard Durocher wrote:

>     On Sunday I arrived in Pittsburgh for the Viewing, or  
> Visitation, for Albert C. Labriola with other friends, students,  
> colleagues, and of course Al's family, including his widow Regina,  
> his son Michael, his sister in law, Kathy, and Al's grandchildren.   
> On Monday,  in a pew with Susan Wadsworth-Booth of Duquesne  
> University Press and other colleagues and friends,  I attended Al's  
> Mass of Christian burial in the Duquesne Chapel.  Thinking that  
> many on this list would welcome news of these events, particularly  
> the memorial service, I offer the following account.  For those who  
> want the short version, it is this:  Many testified to the  
> conviction that our beloved Al was surely at peace with his God,  
> and that he had lived a life distinguished by worth and service.
>     At the viewing I met not only many members of Al's family but  
> also his colleagues at Duquesne, several of whom were visibly  
> shaken by their loss.  While the bitter irony was sometimes  
> mentioned  that Al had defeated cancer only to succumb to his bout  
> with pneumonia while on break in Florida, I heard no murmuring of  
> complaint.  Al had trained us too well for that.  All I met were  
> full of stories about Al's wit, tenacity, and intelligence.  From  
> Al's friend and pall bearer, Fred, I was surprised to learn what Al  
> only rarely shared, that he was a decorated officer who had served  
> in the Vietnam war, and that he and his unit had only recently  
> reestablished contact.   I also met an impressive group of young  
> scholars and teachers who had studed with Al, including some, such  
> as Matt Vickless, who were looking forward to continuing advances  
> degrees under Al's direction.  Again, these students had cause for  
> self-pity, but they asked instead for my memories of happy moments  
> that I recalled with Al.
>    The funeral program includes a lovely picture of Al, smiling  
> knowingly and wearing an Italian silk ties and pocket scarf.  Under  
> that picture is the full text of Milton's "On Time."  Aptly, one of  
> Al's three eulogists referred to the poem's vision of an end to  
> Time's race, "when once our heav'nly-guided soul shall clime," as  
> befitting Al's spiritual ascent.  Al's colleague of over 30 years  
> at Duquesne, George Worgul, eloquently read Donne's sonnet, "At the  
> round Earth's imagined corners blow," as  the opening of his  
> insightful, piercing eulogy, celebrating Al's sometimes angelic,  
> sometimes Puckish demeanor.  Sam Hazo spoke of the morning in the  
> Duquesne chapel as comparable to two other tragic times: the  
> subdued assembly for the death of President Kennedy; and the  
> elaborate service for Princess Grace of Monaco, a Duquesne alumna.   
> I thought Al would appreciate the humor of the analogy drawn  
> between himself and the princess.  Yet I also heard him, repeatedly  
> over the weekend, described as a prince among men.  A phrase I  
> cherish from the service is Samuel Hazo's simple, fitting tribute  
> to Al as "a citizen-scholar like no other."
>    During my time in Pittsburgh, I heard many thanks on the part of  
> the Labriola family for the many testimonials and kind words said  
> about Al over the Milton list.  His son, Michael, perhaps with  
> Susan's thoughtfulness, has been reading and at times quoting from  
> our comments and memories, and he specifically asked me to convey  
> my thanks to contributors from the list.  The outpouring of  
> heartfelt appreciation for Al Labriola, whom I was honored to have  
> as a mentor and later, my editor, and above all my friend for over  
> twenty years, certainly is appreciated.  It is also fitting.   
> Perhaps the only unfitness here is my own role as messenger here.   
> I know many others who knew Al better than I, some of whom,  
> including his long time friends and collaborators like John Mulryan  
> has already responded, while others including my teacher, Mary Ann  
> Radzinowicz, who once told me she loved Al Labriola like a brother,  
> have not yet.  As others have said, I hope Al's dear friend,  
> Michael Lieb, whom illness and distance prevented from attending  
> these ceremonies, will be able to offer the centerpiece of many  
> words, to be artfully arranged at a fit occasion, in praise and  
> memory of Dr. Albert C. Labiola, our secretary, our colleague, our  
> editor, our mentor, our brother, our friend.
>
>    Rich DuRocher
>    St. Olaf College
>    Northfield, Minnesota
>
>
>
>
>
> <ATT00002.txt>

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