Jeffrey Sammons

To my good friend Jeffrey Sammons, a fine gentleman and scholar

My condolences to the family. I never met Jeffrey in person, but for many years we corresponded. He was a cherished contributor to a journal I edited, I always looked forward to his texts, and he knew how much I respected his knowledge and valued his contributions. Our exchanges were professional but infused with a strong sense of shared values, of appreciation of literature, history, and language. I felt that I had come to know him - his generosity, modesty, honesty, his encyclopedic...

I was a student of Professor Sammons during academic year 1960-61 in an intermediate German class. It was my favorite class as an undergraduate: he was tough but fair, and always made the subject interesting. Just today [6 May 2021] I learned of his death, which saddens me greatly. I offer his loved ones sincere condolences. I remembers his telling us that he hoped to study chemistry, but his experience in a basic class at Yale steered him to German. That was fortunate for us all, as he has...

Jeffrey Sammons generously shared his insights and his support for fellow scholars. His two books on Wilhelm Raabe redefined our knowledge of that writer's life and work. I shall miss having him to turn to.

In Memory of Jeffrey Sammons (died February 15th, 2021)

Never ever I‘ll forget him,
a good friend and learned scholar. –

In twenty ou and eight a tour
of conference attendees took
from Vienna off to Znaim by bus,
a pleasant summer-ride for us.

Then looking into Thaja‘s canyon
below the sky’s bluest color,
when Jeff broke suddenly the silence
and mourned the loss of many notions,
his course of life‘s forlorn...

The Swiss friends of the writer Charles Sealsfield, who died in Solothurn, extend their warmest condolences to the family of the late Professor Sammons, a great Sealsfield expert. We remember with gratitude his great expertise, his kind modesty, and his generosity.
Verena Bider, former director of the Solothurn Central Library

Jeffrey was an outstanding scholar and an important mentor. I will miss him greatly.

Before I ever met Jeffrey Sammons in person, he was a much admired role model for me. After I got to know him, he became a beloved colleague and friend; even a kind of surrogate grandfather for my little daughter when we spent a semester in Yale. I remember all the conferences where we met, both in the US and in Europa; I remember the times we spent in the house on Highland Street, I remember a 4th of July we celebrated together, I remember Jeff staying with us in Vienna.
Christa, we...

Knowledgeable, approachable, friendly...I still remember Jeffrey as his student and as a consummate educator.