Paul Douglas Sheats

June 17, 1932 - August 23, 2024 Paul Douglas Sheats, longtime professor of English at UCLA, died in Los Angeles on August 23, 2024, at the age of 92.

He was born June 17, 1932, in Albany, New York, to Paul Henry Sheats and Dorothea Burns. He moved several times during his childhood - living in Ohio, Washington D C. and Florida.

He exceled at anything to which he put his mind. In high school he was Captain of the track team, his specialty being the 400. He was an integral part of his team winning the regional championship as he was also the anchor on the mile relay team.

This outstanding achievement helped him earn a full scholarship to Harvard University. He continued his path of excellence. Serving as Captain of track in addition to President of the Student Council, won "Outstanding Freshman" award and would continue on to Balliol, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. This was awarded on the basis of "character, intellect, leadership, and physical vigor."

After earning bachelor's degrees in biology, in 1954 from Harvard College - where he also ran track - and in English, in 1957 from Oxford University, He taught English at Haverford College, from 1958 to 1960. He returned to Harvard for his master's (1963) and doctorate (1966), both in English.

He joined UCLA as an assistant professor of English in 1966, eventually reaching the rank of full professor in 1978, when he also began a five-year term as English department chair.

He specialized in English Romantic poetry, particularly the works of Keats and Wordsworth, and he published fresh editions of their poems. Wordsworth (1982) and John Keats (1975), both published by Houghton-Mifflin.

His major scholarly contribution was his book from Harvard University Press on Wordsworth's early work, The Making of Wordsworth's Poetry, 1785-1798. He was also much invested in that poet's great posthumous poem, The Prelude, especially its environmental concerns.

He was a great outdoorsman himself, and much dedicated to studying the life and achievements of John Muir.

A lifelong outdoorsman who hiked in Nepal ('78), climbed the Matterhorn ('50) and enjoyed sailing late into his life.

Living in California, he took advantage of the state's natural beauty, from the mountains to the coast. In addition to indulging his interest in hiking, he maintained a boat in Marina del Rey for a time; he enjoyed sailing out to San Miguel Island, the westernmost of the Channel Islands.

After his retirement, he was President of the UCLA Emeriti Association.

He lived a rich and full life.

He left the world a better place and is deeply missed by his family and friends.