Marion Leathers Kuntz

Family-Placed Death Notice

KUNTZ, Marion MARION LEATHERS KUNTZ Dr. Marion Leathers Kuntz passed away quietly at home with her family July 10, 2010. A native--albeit well traveled--Atlantan, she was a citizen of the world, especially her beloved Venezia, Italy. Daughter of Otto Asa and Lucille Parks Leathers, her death is preceded by her husband, Dr. Paul G. Kuntz. She was raised in Decatur, a distinguished graduate of both Agnes Scott College and Emory University, she went on to teach at the Lovett School and Georgia State University. Only her very recent struggle with illness slowed her ongoing academic pursuits and international travels. Dr. Kuntz lived life fully and brilliantly-with speaking engagements still in demand until the end. Dr. Kuntz's family was the center of her life. She will be remembered as a doting mother and Nonna (grandmother), a high fashion model of elegant beauty, holder of a Doctorate degree, Classical scholar, highly honored teacher, professor, and researcher, respected senior administrator at Georgia State University, devout parishioner of Sacred Heart Church, creative seamstress, southern cook with an international flair, quintessential hostess of gatherings in her beautiful home, translator and interpreter of obscure ancient manuscripts, author and sought- after public speaker...in short--a Renaissance woman. A consummate scholar all of her life, she initially studied Greek and Latin at Agnes Scott College. She was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic society and graduated with high honors in 1945. She married Eb Daniels, III with whom she had two sons, Charles and Alan Daniels. In 1963, Dr. Kuntz returned to school to finish her education. She began work on her Masters and Ph.D. at Emory University, while teaching at the Lovett School and caring for her two sons. She received her Masters degree in Latin in 1964 and completed her Ph.D. in 1969. In 1975 her thesis was published as The Colloquium of the Seven about Secrets of the Sublime, a translation of Jean Bodin's vital dialogue on theology and religious diversity. Dr. Kuntz was a lifelong learner, however, and would also attend the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece and the American Academy in Rome. She began teaching at Georgia State University and became a full professor in 1975, the same year that she was honored in Georgia as the first female Regent's Professor of Classics. The following year she also became the first woman to chair the Georgia State foreign language department. Dr. Kuntz's two greatest loves were her family and knowledge. She would make annual pilgrimages to Venice, Italy, where she did her research in the States Archives and the Marciana Library. Dr. Kuntzís extensive research yielded groundbreaking advances in the history of Renaissance thought, spawning over 35 book chapters and 28 essays and articles. Dr. Kuntz also gave countless speeches and public lectures and her work has been cited by both academic and popular writers such as Umberto Eco. Dr. Kuntzís greatest contributions to learning, however, came in the form of her published books, each a labor of love. In addition to her published doctoral thesis, she has written Guillaume Postel, Prophet of the Restitution of All Things: His Life and Thought, Jacobís Ladder and the Tree of Life: Concepts of Heirarchy and the Great Chain of Being, which she wrote with her second husband, Dr. Paul Grimley Kuntz, Postello, Venezia, e Il Suo Mondo, Venice, Myth and Utopian Thought, and her most recent creation, The Anointment of Dionisio, which was published in 2002. At the time of her death she was working on a new book ñ a study of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in Venice during the Renaissance. In 1985 Dr. Kuntz was honored as a Fuller E. Callaway Distinguished Professor, just one year after earning her position as a Research Professor. In 1988 she hosted a public symposium in Venice at which six distinguished Italian scholars presented their views on her scholarly work. She was honored as a distinguished professor at Georgia State in 1994 and a distinguished alumna of Agnes Scott in 1995. She served on the Executive Council of the Renaissance Society of America since 1994 and was made a trustee in 2004. Her other academic awards, honors, achievements, and grants are too numerous to mention. Dr. Kuntz retired from teaching at Georgia State, at which time it was noted that she had taught nearly three quarters of Georgiaís high school Latin teachers. Many of her students, with whom she maintained a very close relationship, went on to become professors themselves. Her academic legacy shall stand eternal in the form of her extensive corpus of research and writing but also in the living memorial held by every student that she touched. While Dr. Kuntz will be greatly missed by her family and her friends, the undying memory of her boundless love shall resonate forever. She might quote the Latin poet, Horace, ìExegi monumentum aere perennius.î (I have made a monument more lasting than bronze.) Dr. Kuntz is survived by two siblings, Sarah Leathers Martin and James C. Leathers; her two sons, Charles E. and O. Alan Daniels; Daughters-in-law Linda and Jeanne Daniels; step-children Susan Sawyer, Tim Kuntz, Joel Kuntz and Sarah Dilworth. Grand children, Alex Daniels, Joseph Daniels, Sarah Daniels, Rebecca Daniels, Marion Daniels, Asa Daniels; one nephew, James Leathers and two nieces Sylvia Martin Estes and Susan Leathers Mitchell. A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atlanta at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, July 14, with burial at Decatur City Cemetery. Family and friends are invited for visitation and wake on Tuesday, July 13 at H.M. Patterson & Son - Spring Hill from 6-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Josephís Indian School, Chamberlain, S.D., The Atlanta Opera, or the charity of choice.