Michael Carl Schoenfeldt

Mike was a brilliant but down-to-earth scholar, and an invariably kind and cheerful acquaintance. He was such a physically imposing figure, plus an intellectual superstar, that one could expect him to be haughty and aloof. His engaging cheerfulness quickly dispelled such notions, however. Nonetheless, he always had an observation -- about a text, a movie, a sporting event, current politics -- that revealed the range and power of his mind. His love of his family was something he conveyed...

A mentor, a friend, an extraordinary scholar: I am gutted by this news, learned today; we had a rich exchange over 25 years, from the moment he was my external examiner for my doctoral degree. At a conference in Leiden, on the history of pain, Mike said something to me I think about every single day: 'Stephen, why don't you try writing papers that start conversations rather than end them?' I am forever in his debt, beautifully impossible to repay. A grand soul, in every way.

I will miss him horribly. He was a life-long friend and conversation partner (since 1985). I have written a eulogy for him that will appear in the George Herbert Journal. It tries to pay some homage to his work and his way of being in the world. Truly a sweet and virtuous soul. I can't believe that he is gone.

I first met Mike through Prayer and Power and our shared love of Herbert´s poetry. A long and delightful transatlantic friendship ensued. I will never forget his scholarly brilliance, generosity of spirit, and love of life. Thank you, Mike!

Mike was my first teacher and my PhD advisor at Michigan. When my daughter was born during my dissertation years, he gifted her her first book, The Runaway Bunny, shaping the tastes of two generations of readers in my family.

In my memory, Michael was a person of quiet determination and calmness. I admired the wy he wrorew with surgical precision, as in The Cambridge Introduction to Shakespeare's Poetry (Cambridge Introductions to Literature). in the U-M English Dept., where he was chair at the time of my retirement, he was widely respected for setting a high standard of collegiality.

A fine scholar and a courteous, kindly man.

Mike was a wonderful human being and a great critic and scholar. I was truly honored to have him as my friend over many years. Mike was also one of the most generous persons I knew, I found him open-minded, witty, warm, and always willing to discuss ideas and work. When I experienced my own personal difficulties, Mike was a sympathetic listener. Mike was also one of the finest scholars in my field. His book on George Herbert, Prayer and Power, profoundly changed the way we read...