[Milton-L] Al Labriola's memorial service

[Campbell, W. Gardner]

Thank you, Rich; thank you.

 

Gardner Campbell

Baylor University

 

From: milton-l-bounces at lists.richmond.edu
[mailto:milton-l-bounces at lists.richmond.edu] On Behalf Of Richard
Durocher
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 12:44 PM
To: John Milton Discussion List; Susan Wadsworth-Booth
Subject: [Milton-L] Al Labriola's memorial service

 

    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


   



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.richmond.edu/pipermail/milton-l/attachments/20090318/0d4021c9/attachment.html