Charles Walker Bassett

Charlie: You are unforgettable. I remember The Blast, the Volante, and our great times together at the Beta house.
Rest peacefully, my friend.

oh bassett!
Even now I can hear you going over your poop sheet, telling our survey lit class that even if Aunt Matilda from Toledo, Ohio, was dying of a rare tropical disease, our papers were due on time or else.
Yes, I was one of the five rogue students hiding under Miss Lonelihearts identities (I was "Broad Shoulders") to match your own game, threatening to kidnap the papers unless you showed up at the Air New England terminal of Dallas-Ft.Worth airport, dressed in pink...

Along with so many others, I count Charlie Bassett as one of the big influences in my life. I was fortunate indeed to have known him, worked for him, and taken classes from him. To Beth and David: take comfort in knowing what a great man your dad was, in so many ways, to so many people. (He was the sole human being who could get away with calling me "La-VWAH!")

Kay Lowell (LaVoie) Colby 1979

The presence of Charlie Bassett at Colby, made the college one of the great liberal arts schools. His passing, to my mind, decidedly, marks the very end of an era.

Ted, Colby '74

I am proud to have called Charlie Bassett my friend for 21 years, and I will greatly miss his presence in my life.

When I first met Charlie during my freshman year at Colby, I recall a somewhat gruff exterior with a smile that let you know it was just a facade. I took five classes with him during my four years, despite my being a Government major. Each one taught me something new about the literature we read, and about Charlie's amazing capacity to humanize the works.

Without a doubt Bassett was my favorite Colby professor. As an American Studies major, I took several of his classes. His exams were legendary -- especially the "extra credit" questions at the end, which often included his drawings of items to identify. And of course my writing is better because of him -- yes, commas go inside the quotation marks. I heard from him every Christmas, and saw him at every reunion except this last one. CW, you were truly the best of the best.

Professor Bassett was my favorite thing about Colby College; a wonderful teacher and man with whom i spent hours on O'Hara and Fitzgerald. A tremendous influence on my life and he will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to you David and Elizabeth. All my best to you and your families. Erica Kay, Colby 1995

To Beth and David, my thoughts are with you and your loss. Charlie was a wonderful , unique human being devoted to your mom and the two of you. I can still picture him "leaning" into the direction of play at a soccer game.

Love, Judy Kany (Tucson)