Daphne Athas

Beloved Daphne, we didnt see eye to eye on many things but we did agree on one thing: our love for eternal Greece.

I met Daphne in 68 at the time she carried a ponytail. My father was violinist for the North Carolina symphony and spent alot of time with Daphne's dad, mr. Athas where they conversed only in ancient Greek, Dorian dilect since they were both from the Peloponnese. Will miss her , Rachel and Homer. May she embrace eternity with passion as she embraced life.

Will always remember you , Rachel, Homer and your dad Athas. You were our first friends in our time in North Carolina between 69 and 70.

Daphne was sharp and funny and opinionated and a marvelous writer and observer of the human scene. Her novel ENTERING EPHESUS gave me some background for my biography of Alice Adams, who overlapped with Daphne at Chapel Hill High School in the late 1930s. We spent an evening talking (and I think drinking?) at an outdoor restaurant in Carrboro in 2010. I also treasure her later book CHAPEL HILL IN PLAIN SIGHT. She was a gem.

I met Daphne as my first braille teacher in 1960 when I was in the first grade. Daphne had been working at Perkins and came out to Upton to teach me. She was a wonderful teacher and life-long friend. I have enjoyed many engaging conversations with her and she was always encouraging and supportive to me in my life endeavors. I will miss her. Love to you my great teacher and mentor. Until we meet again. God Bless and Rest In Peace.LLLL

Daphne taught me creative writing at UNC in 1985. She was a wonderful, inspiring, supportive, and fun teacher--and she was all that and more as a person. We stayed in touch over the years and she even brought me in to work with the Gram-O-Rama course she originated. When we'd visit I'd usually have a short mental list of things I wanted to discuss with her but we'd get sidetracked as the conversation took intriguing twists and turns and after leaving I'd find myself amazed that I had asked...

Rest in peace sweet soul!!!!

I have fond memories of Daphne as a teacher and as a mentor. She was always encouraging, responding to my correspondence with witty little notes, always on the same style postcard, staying positive even when my dreams seemed elusive. And I was a great admirer of her novel "Entering Ephesus." My condolences to her loved ones.