[Milton-L] Al Labriola's memorial service

[aguibbor at barnard.edu]

>
Thank you, thank you, Rich, for this. It means a lot to me.  I too loved
Al, and knew he'd been in Vietnam. This brought back wonderful memories of
a conversation I had with Al in FEb 1995, in Gulfport Mississippi at the
Donne Conference, where we spoke of that and of a close mutual friend who
had suddenly died.  I just can't stop thinking about Al. So, bless you for
sending this.
Achsah


     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
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