WALTER W. ISLE

WALTER W. ISLE, 76, died January 14, 2010. Born December 3, 1933 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, he lived most of his adult life in Houston, where he worked at Rice University from 1961 to 2007. He joined Rice's English Department after receiving his PhD from Stanford University, and served as Chair of the English Department, Speaker of the Faculty Council, and Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. He was the founding co-director of the Center for the Study of Environment and Society at Rice, and served as President of national organization the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment.His many colleagues, students, and friends will remember him for his passion for teaching and his students, good nature, and wit. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Walker, two sons and two stepsons, and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Friday, February 26 at 4pm in the Rice Memorial Chapel. The family requests that no flowers be sent. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be sent to establish and to support the "Walter W. Isle Lectureship in Environmental Literature" at Rice University. Contributions can be sent to:Professor Helena Michie, ChairAttention: Walter IsleMemorial FundEnglish Department MS-30Rice UniversityP.O. Box 1892Houston, TX 77251-1892