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James Stephens Obituary

James F.M. Stephens, Jr. James F.M. Stephens, Jr., 88, born February 16, 1922 in Del Rio, Texas to James F.M. and Alma Edna Walters Stephens. He earned his BA at the University of Texas, 1946; and PhD, Yale, 1954. James is a veteran of WWII. His military service was in Army Intelligence with work in Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. In a long and distinguished career at the University of Texas, Jim specialized in modern French drama and served as Chair of the Department of French and Italian. He is preceded in death by his parents, James F. M. Stephens and Alma Edna Walters Stephens; his sisters, Marjorie Taylor and Mary Lee Cooper; his nephew, Stephen Taylor; his niece, Mary Dee Guttery, and friends and associates. He is survived by his niece, Stephanie Rezzoffi; great-nieces and nephews; great-great-nieces and nephews; longtime friend, Nina Cooper, and many friends and associates. Jim lived an incredible life. His family treasured him. Throughout his life, in travel and in Austin, he was actively engaged in life around him, attending theater, concerts, and movies. As a generous, gracious and humble man, he could connect effectively with any generation and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. He loved opera, surreal art and fine food and wine. He was a role model for how to age with grace and dignity. Anyone wishing to honor his memory may make a donation to one of the following: KMFA radio, The Metropolitan Grand Opera, UT French/Italian Department, Le Monde. Or, if you'd really like to honor him, learn a foreign language, preferably French. Graveside services to be held Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery with Rev. Christine Kenney officiating. Obituary and memorial guestbook available online at www.wcfish.com

Published by Austin American-Statesman on Feb. 6, 2011.
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Jim Stephens was a true Southern gentleman and I was privileged to know him at UT. My sincere condolences to his family and to his friend Nina.

Cynthia Manley
Ph.D. UT, '76

CYNTHIA MANLEY

February 11, 2011

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