Barry Scherr

Barry Scherr

Norwich, VT - Barry Paul Scherr died on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, of complications from pancreatic cancer, at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care in Lebanon, N.H., with his loving family by his side. He was 79.

He was born in Hartford, Conn., on May 20, 1945, the older son of Joseph and Helen (Shapiro) Scherr. Growing up in Enfield, Conn., he helped out on his family's poultry farm, tending to the hens and collecting their eggs. Many of his early memories involved work on the farm, which in its heyday had about 7,000 chickens. The family grew to include his younger brother, Richard, to whom he remained close all his life.

He went to public schools through ninth grade, then received a scholarship to Suffield Academy, which he attended as a day student, graduating in 1963. He entered Harvard as a sophomore, intending to major in a science discipline, and started learning Russian because the language was considered useful for scientists. Unexpectedly, he discovered a passion for Russian literature that inspired his life's work.

After graduating in 1966 as a Slavic major, he headed to the University of Chicago - at that time the farthest West he'd traveled - to continue his study of Russian literature as a Ph.D. student. In 1969-70, he spent a year in what was then the Soviet Union conducting research for his dissertation, the first of many trips to the region that included leading foreign study programs for college students. From 1970-74, he taught at the University of Washington. Though he would return East in 1974 to be closer to family, he loved the vibrancy of Seattle and the beauty of the Northwest.

During his senior year at Harvard, a graduate student set him up on a blind date with her cousin, Sylvia Egelman. That initial meeting led to a deep friendship and ultimately a lifelong partnership. The couple were married on Sept. 8, 1974, at the home of Sylvia's parents on Long Island.

That summer, Barry joined the Dartmouth community as a faculty member in the Russian Department. During his 38 years at Dartmouth, he served in several administrative positions, including associate dean for humanities and, for eight years, provost. To these roles he brought commitment, integrity, and his skill as an incisive and sensitive communicator. As a leader, he was known for his support of the arts, for his openness to innovation, and for his practice of considering the perspectives of all stakeholders, no matter their rank.

He was a dedicated teacher who valued relationships with students and kept in touch with some of them over many decades. As a scholar, his work was informed by wide-ranging interests, including 19th- and 20th-century Russian fiction, comparative literature, film and linguistics. Perhaps his most significant contributions were in the area of poetry and poetics, including his book Russian Poetry: Meter, Rhythm, and Rhyme. Following his retirement from Dartmouth in 2012, he continued to research and write until his illness prevented him from doing so. At the same time, he was a generous mentor to others in his field, offering feedback on their scholarship that helped them produce their best work.

Amid an intense career, he was a steady and supportive presence for his wife and children, who survive him. He provided guidance to his daughter, Sonia, on her writing. He also traveled, often solo, to visit her wherever she was living, from Pennsylvania to Alabama to Morocco. In May 2019, he spent a week in Ukraine with Sonia, who was teaching English there as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer. A highlight of that trip for both of them was his visits to her English Club and five of the classes she worked with; among other topics, he spoke with her students about his experiences learning Russian and studying and traveling in Eastern Europe.

With his son, David, he enjoyed discussing politics, history, books and sports. For many years, they attended Red Sox games together at least annually. (As one friend noted, "he was as adept at talking about the state of the Red Sox as he was about Russian literature.") He was excited to hear about the plans of David and his fiancée, Charlie Gliserman, for building a house in Bolton, Vt. Barry passed on his love of literature and learning to both his children, and also expressed pride in each of them as unique individuals.

At home in Norwich, where he lived for nearly 50 years, he tended flower, vegetable and herb gardens, and took pleasure in observing the hummingbirds that came to his feeder. With his wife, he enjoyed summer trips to Ogunquit, Maine; Scrabble games that included longtime friends (and which he nearly always won); and movies and Metropolitan Opera broadcasts in Hanover. His quiet humor brightened the days of family and friends.

For the past 15 months, he faced pancreatic cancer with characteristic courage and hope. His family wishes to thank his medical team at Norris Cotton Cancer Center, the doctors and nurses of 1 West at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and the staff at the Byrne Center, for their exceptional care at the end of his life.

The family will hold a private funeral service at the Roth Center, which he helped create as president of the Upper Valley Jewish Community from 1991-94. Burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Norwich. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care, to the Dartmouth College Fund in support of financial aid for undergraduates, or to a charity of one's choice.