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Richard Arthur Obituary
January 20, 1937 - December 17, 2009
Richard Anthony Arthur (Tony) died of cancer on December 17, in Woodland Hills. He was born in Sharon, PA, and served in the U.S. Army, attending the Military Language School at Monterey, where he studied Korean, after which he was stationed near the D.M.Z. He earned his B.A. at Allegheny College, a Master's at Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph.D at SUNY Stony Brook.
Tony spent more than 30 years as an English professor at CSU Northridge, where he initiated a successful internship program for professional writing. He also wrote six books on a range of historical and literary topics; a history of the Mexican expedition of Confederate General Shelby will be published by Random House in 2010.
Tony's pleasures in life were his family, cross-country car trips (many of them in a semi-reliable VW van), and travel abroad. He was awarded two Fulbright fellowships to Hungary, and a Senior Fulbright fellowship in Germany. Never without a book at hand and an interest to pursue, he taught himself French and German. He enjoyed hiking, sailing, and golf, but his first love in sports was always tennis.
Tony is survived by his wife, Carolyn, their children Reagan (Scott) and Owen (Karen), and grandchildren Nell, Duncan, Olivia, and Jane. Also surviving him are a nephew and three nieces. A January memorial is planned.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Arthur
2 Entries
Barbara Kelly
January 10, 2010
In this short Life
That only lasts an hour
How much -- how little -- is
Within our power
--Emily Dickinson (J 1287)
By a departing light
We see acuter, quite,
Than by a wick that stays.
There's something in the flight
That clarifies the sight
And decks the rays.
--Emily Dickinson (J 1714)
The past is not a package one can lay away.
--Emily Dickinson (L 830)
He whom we love and lose,
Is no longer where he was before,
He is now wherever we are.
--St. John Chrysostom, 4th century
Kathleen Harrington
December 31, 2009
At USAFA's Department of English and Fine Arts (DFENG), we mourn Tony's loss. The extreme care and attention he took in teaching cadets was matched only by the mentoring and friendship he offered junior faculty. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
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