Donald Fleming

Some news for Donald Fleming's friends: I found the manuscript for his legendary, unfinished, unpublished _History of Science in America_ in the Harvard Archives. I have edited a chapter of it, "The Meaning of Earthquakes," which will appear in the 2022 issue of the _Massachusetts Historical Review_.

I was worried when the usual Christmas card and cryptic comment from Donald did not arrive. I then found the news of his passing last summer. Donald, my thesis advisor, was Harvard to me. His course on American Intellectual History brought to life the power of individual thinking (when put to action for the greater good). That was inspirational teaching.... And a Christmas card to boot for 36 years. Like his teaching, I have had taken him for a constant in my life. I will continue to see him...

Learned today of Dr. Fleming's passing. He is my second cousin.My mother was his first cousin. I never met the man, but did try to connect with him through Harvard. I regret that I was not more persistant. He left some great second cousins. We see very little of each other, but, when we do, we have a wonderful time. Glad to read that hehad such a full life and good friends.

Professor Fleming was a faithful customer of Schoenhof's Foreign Books; his sparkling personality and wit would grace every visit to us. Professor Fleming, whenever I had written up a list of the books he had chosen to take with or have sent to him, would always say before departing the store, "Don't forget to take out your commission." Professor Fleming took me out to lunch once several years ago; I remember that I had asked him to speak of his years at Harvard. He was just as interested...

He was at all Christmas and Thanksgiving each year at my home. Our tree would received a new star each year from the Smithsonian. My children and wife Jennifer will miss him and remember him as kind, gentle and wise

It was always a grand occasion when Donald would come down from Cambridge
to Providence for the weekend to visit us old friends from Brown. We three couples would always share the hosting — the Thomases, the Jordys and the McLoughlins — and together for the weekend, we all delighted in every moment of his company.

It is sad to realize that I am the only one left living of this group, and now Donald. I remember Donald's saying to me once that dying was a fact of life and he didn't...

Once, years ago, when I called a Cambridge florist to send flowers to the professor's home as he recovered from a minor operation, I was struck by an audible smile on the other end of the line; so many people were sending bouquets to Prof. Fleming that the florist didn't need to hear the address. And once, while having dinner with him at a local restaurant, I noticed that the waiter was smiling as though the Professor had been there in the company of other friends earlier that very day. ...

Professor Fleming gave some of the most memorable lectures of my undergraduate experience. He truly inspired pursuit of a lifetime of learning.

Donald Fleming was my teacher and friend. I had typically convivial lunch with him less than two weeks before he died.

He was a lovable man. Everyone who came in contact with him, from colleagues to waiters to small children, was fond of him. His students loved him. For me, he was like a member of the family.

He was a great teacher. His lectures, grand in scope and beautifully composed, were among the most popular at Harvard, and over his long career he attracted a...