Search by Name

Search by Name

James Wells Gair

1927 - 2016

James Wells Gair obituary, 1927-2016, Trumansburg, NY

James Gair Obituary

Gair, James Wells

James Wells Gair, who was born December 27, 1927, and died at age 88 in Ithaca, New York December 10, 2016, was an eminent linguist whose study of South Asian languages and their underlying relation to other languages of the world is pioneering and paradigm shifting.

James Gair is predeceased by his first wife, Sylvia Gair, by his daughter, Barbie Friedenberg; by his student and collaborator, the Sri Lankan linguist Prof W.S.Karunatillake, from whose loss in 2012 he never recovered; and by his dear friend, architect Ronald Cassetti. He is survived by Barbara Lust, his wife and scholarly collaborator who has walked, lived, loved and worked side by side with him for 38 years; by his son, Alex Gair and his wife, Diane; his grandchildren, Brian and Amelia, and by countless friends, students and colleagues, who loved and learned from him, as well as others including innumerable strangers on the street to whom he brought light and humor.

After receiving a BA (Magna cum Laude) (1949), and then an MA (1956) in English from the University of Buffalo, James Gair attained a PhD in Linguistics (1963) from Cornell University and then an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka (1993) where he was awarded the title of "Sahitya Chakravartin," that is, "Benevolent Emperor of Literature".

James Gair was invited to become an assistant professor of linguistics at Cornell immediately on completing his PhD (1962), where he remained until his retirement (2000), becoming full professor (1974) and emeritus (2000). Before teaching at Cornell, James Gair also taught at the University of Buffalo 1949-1951, l954-1958, the State University of New York at Utica 1951-1954, and served a year in the US Army in Korea. He also taught at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Kelaniya (Sri Lanka), the Universities of Delhi, Colombo and Kerala, and was visiting scientist at both Harvard and MIT. He received several Fulbright awards for study in Sri Lanka as well as awards from the American Institute of Indian Studies, the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He was a founding member of the Association for Asian Studies, and served on the board of directors for the American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies.

As associate chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at Cornell (1978-1981), James Gair led the department to integration of generative linguistic theories with strong areal language studies, guiding the hiring of a new generation of scholars who would bridge theoretical linguistics to deep and authentic language studies. James Gair was deeply dedicated to teaching as well as to research, leading to numerous students over the years. Many of his students became collaborators and are now placed across the world. He helped to initiate, build and sustain Cornell's South Asia Program, directing it from 1970 to 1977, initiating its collaboration with Syracuse University. His extensive scholarship steered the program to its continuing commitment to Sri Lankan studies, and its pre-eminent place for Sri Lankan studies in the world, establishing the first and only Sinhala language program in the western hemisphere.

James Gair studied and taught several South Asian languages, with a special emphasis on Sinhala as well as Tamil (Sri Lanka), but also including Hindi, Dhivehi, Malayalam and Pali (the canonical language of Theravada Buddhism); as well as various stages of English language development and Blackfoot.

James Gair's early book, Colloquial Sinhalese Clause Structures, now classic, provided a groundbreaking generative analysis of the yet largely unstudied Sinhala language, leading to discovery of fundamental properties of syntax, e.g., a focus construction; moving the field not only to the study of colloquial language in general, as opposed to written or literary texts, and to the productivity of theoretically based analyses of colloquial language, but also to investigations of comparative structures in other widely diverse languages, which continue today. Related publications on Colloquial Sinhalese (with his mentor Gordon Fairbanks, and M.W. Sugathapala De Silva) (reprinted 1984) included the most comprehensive elementary pedagogical texts ever produced for the colloquial Sinhala language. Another related publication is a survey of Dhivehi (Maldivian) as a language that was written with Bruce D Cain (2000).

James Gair's long collaboration with Prof. Karunatillake began with the latter's studies at Cornell as a graduate student beginning in 1965 and continued throughout their lives. This collaboration resulted in a series of major works, including Literary Sinhala (1974, 1976), comprehensive and unsurpassed to this day; A New Course in Reading Pali: Entering the Word of the Buddha (1998, reprinted 2001), which remains the most effective introduction to the study of Buddhist literature in Pali; Dhamma Sagaho: An Introduction to Pali Literature (2012); A Reader in Colloquial Sinhala (with Karunatillake and Paolillo) (1987); as well as An Introduction to Spoken Tamil (1978) with Professors Suseendirarajah and Karunatillake, providing the first structured teaching material addressed to the colloquial Jaffna Tamil of Sri Lanka (situation-based dialogue, grammatical information, vocabulary and exercises). Through these books James Gair and W.S. Karunatillake created the conditions for others to learn the languages necessary for scholarship in a wide range of fields, and, moreover, exemplified in their long-lasting collaborations, how co-operative scholarly relations were key to producing cross-cultural scholarship of the highest order.

Their collaboration culminated in the publication of The Sidat Sangara, Text, Translation and Glossary (2013) with notes on the classic 13th century Sinhala grammar and its commentaries. Professors Gair and Karunatillake labored together on this monumental work of scholarship for almost three decades.

The wide knowledge and linguistic understanding reflected in the collaboration between Professors Gair and Karunatillake with its linkage of theoretical linguistic analyses to deep and profound knowledge of specific languages, led them to discover profoundly similar structural properties as well as distinct differences across languages. Such discoveries often revealed phenomena unknown through studies of English or European languages alone, and challenged current theoretical assumptions about the nature of language. This work has had wide consequences not only for the development of theoretical linguistics and implications for discovery of language universals, but also for language typology, and studies of language contact and change.

In addition, the depth and scope of Professor James Gair's work led to major contributions to language pedagogy as he and his collaborators developed one of the most extensive bodies of language teaching materials for the languages he was teaching. The pedagogical materials he and his analyses created are foundational, have trained generations of scholars, and remain not only in use, but remain exemplary for resources in language learning.

James Gair's work has also contributed significantly to the basic scientific study of both first and second language acquisition, as well as language loss in dementia, and related cognitive science; he was a major contributor to research in each of these areas and to relevant cognitive science networks.

Known for his strength of mind, his incisiveness and unmatched ability to strip away from obfuscation to the underlying critical point of any proposal, Professor Gair always saw both sides of an argument, completely without prejudice. In this way he would challenge, perplex and enrich his colleagues.

Among the rarest of brilliant intellects, Professor Gair was marked by an unsurpassed deep humanity. His study of language learning involved not only the intricacies of grammar, but also the country, its culture, including its food, and mostly its people.

James Gair was a lover of words. These included the words of Wallace Stevens whose poetry (MA thesis) until the end remained in his mind verbatim with deep understanding, words of an immensely wide English literature, and of Shakespeare whom he quoted with perfect relevance on his deathbed. They also included the words of interaction with everyone his path crossed, regardless of their role in life, understanding them as uniquely significant individuals, insisting on knowing them by name, eager to share culture (hopefully diverse) and language and wit with each.

James Gair's intensely inquisitive mind led him to voracious reading, passionate hobbies of cooking (he became a master South Asian chef, with a Sri Lankan cookbook underway when he died), culinary herbs, travel, cars, as well as the intense enjoyment of children riding carousels.

The immense knowledge and understanding housed in James Gair's mind, which he freely shared, were unfathomable to those who knew him. The integration of intellect and humanity was unsurpassed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Cornell University Library James Wells Gair Endowment (Check payable to Cornell Library c/o Jennifer Sawyers, Director of Library Affairs and Development, 130 E Seneca St, Ithaca NY 15850) and/or to Hospicare, Ithaca New York. http://www.hospicare.org/donate

A memorial is planned for the Spring. Ness-Sibley Funeral Home Trumansburg is assisting the family.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Ithaca Journal on Dec. 24, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for James Gair

Sponsored by The Ithaca Journal.

Not sure what to say?





Sunil Miguntenna Kariyakarawana

December 6, 2021

Professor Gair was such an outstanding academic, great teacher and a wonderful friend to anyone who crossed path with him. He never got tired of helping others, working for those who were in need and he will always go an extra mile to do everything he can do to make others life easy and pleasant. Man with sense of humour, quality and gratitude for the slightest favour he received. Jim (as he was fondly known was a great friend of Sri Lanka in every way, as his student, collegue and friend I learnt so much from Jim he was the kindest teacher I have ever met. His academic work was always thorogh, clear and strong. May you attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana dear Jim!

Sunil Kariyakarawana

December 6, 2020

Jim was such an amazing human being with so much wisdom, compassion and passion for life! He never stopped learning whether it is a culture, language or people. What a loss to see you go Jim I'm ever so indebted to you, Barbera and Professor Karunatilake for all what you have done in my education. Thank you!

Milan Lin-Rodrigo

October 21, 2017

My Beloved professor and friend. No memorials are needed; you are always in my heart. Milan

Heloise Perera

October 20, 2017

A brilliant, often entertaining, patient and kind, beloved teacher. I was his student, Teaching and Research Assistant in Sinhala at Cornell, and first met him in1971.. It is impossible to put into words what a great experience this was. I respected him highly and will never forget him. I will always be grateful to him for taking the time to visit my parents when he was in Sri Lanka, and for assuring them that I was doing well at Cornell. I am sad that I am sending this many months after his passing . I learnt so much from him. I visited him and his wife in 2005 in the U.S. but that was the last time I saw him. I wish we had kept more in touch but the war here made things difficult. It is so sad to accept he is no more. May God keep him safe.

Linda Waugh

January 18, 2017

Jim Gair was a very special human being who was a mentor, friend, and trusted colleague. He had intelligence, insight, wisdom, warmth and humanity. When I arrived at Cornell in 1971 he helped me accommodate to the department and university and we worked very well together from then until his retirement in 2000 (and my departure for the University of Arizona). I'm so sorry he is gone.
-Linda Waugh

Steven Bonta

January 8, 2017

What sad tidings. Jim Gair was my mentor, linguistic guru, and friend, and I was his last student before he eased into well-deserved retirement. Those of us who studied Sinhala, Pali, and Tamil with Jim can appreciate his superlative linguistic gifts; he probably mastered the difficult Sinhala language to a degree never surpassed by a foreign speaker in modern times. Jim was also kind and considerate, bereft of the deficiencies of character typical of many elite academics.

Mansfield University Old college friends

January 2, 2017

Alex we just read about yout father. Thoughts of condolences to you and your family and friends from your old MU Maple floormates and many more friends campus-based.

January 1, 2017

I met my beloved professor James W. Gair and his wife Prof. Barbara Lust at Cornell University in 1979. I worked with Prof. Gair until 1997 assisting him with Sinhalese and Tamil teaching programs, while completing my PhD. at Cornell. I maintained contacts with him until his demise. He was a fountain of knowledge not only in his own field of linguistics but in many other fields. Jim is a noble man in every sense and I will miss him forever. I am writing this from Sri Lanka, Jim's beloved country. May he rest in peace.
Milan Lin-Rodrigo, PhD.

Sunil Kariyakarawana

December 31, 2016

You have lit the life of so many in your life through you knowledge, skills and wisdom, may your journey too throughout be lit by the light of all the saints and sages!

Donald & Maurine Hoyt

December 30, 2016

Alex, We are very sorry to hear of the passing of your father.

Sunil Kariyakarawana

December 26, 2016

I had the good fortune to work under "JIM" (Professor Gair for over 7 years teaching Sinhala and Linguistics at Morrill Hall Cornell and complete my PhD on Wh-Questions and Focus in Sinhala. Though at times I had to fight with Jim to convince of the arguments in my research he was so magnanimous enough to keep the academic disagreements without affecting personal friendship. He was an amazing human being with so much memory, knowledge and skills, humanity and wit. As a student of him I truly am indebted to him for he was instrumental in every success in my life. Dear Jim, may you attain supreme bliss of Nirvana - Sunil Kariyakarawana (Lelwala Sumangala).

Tom & Joanie Yetzer

December 26, 2016

Alex ~

Sincere condolences on the loss of your
father, who led a most fascinating life.

Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results

Make a Donation
in James Gair's name

Memorial Events
for James Gair

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Ness-Sibley Funeral Home

23 South St, Trumansburg, NY 14886

How to support James's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor James Gair's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more