I must report some news of a very melancholy sort.  Pascal Covici,
Jr.--noted Twain scholar, Past President of the Mark Twain Circle, Life
Member of the Circle, good friend to Twain studies and to Twainians--died on
the morning of February 9.  The following is an obituary provided to me by
his daughter, Anna Covici.  I asked for and received permission from her to
share it with members of the Mark Twain Forum.
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COVICI, PASCAL JR.  Born September 2, 1930.  Passed away February 9, 1997.
Survived by his wife of 45 years, Joan Fortescue Covici of Dallas; son
John Covici of Arlington, Texas; daughter Anna Propp Covici of San Diego,
California; and two grandsons, Adam Harvey Covici and Saul Benjamin Propp.
He was the son of Pascal and Dorothy Soll Covici, deceased, of New York
City.  A native of New York City, he graduated from the Horace Mann
School, received the A.B. degree from Harvard College in 1952.  In 1957 he
was awarded the Ph.D. degree in American Literature from Harvard
University and joined the English faculty of Southern Methodist
University.  His lifelong career in teaching and research was spent at
SMU.  A devoted and caring teacher, he inspired and influenced generations
of SMU students.  He was chairman of the SMU English Department 1975-1979
and held the E. A. Lilly Professorship in American Literature to the
present.  He served as Faculty Marshal of the University and on many
important academic committees.  He was author of scholarly articles and
several books, including Mark Twain's Humor:  The Image of a World and the
just published Humor and Revelation in American Literature:  The Puritan
Connection.  He was president of the national Mark Twain Circle and member
of the American Literature Association, the Modern Language Association,
and many other professional organizations, including Phi Beta Kappa.
Memorials may be made to the Pascal Covici Prize in American Literature,
through Professor Dennis Foster, Chairman of the English Department,
Southern Methodist University, Box 0435, Dallas, Texas 75275.

A memorial service will be held later in the Spring.  For details contact
Professor Marshall Terry, Associate Provost, 209 Perkins Administration
Building, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275.
(214)768-3454; e-mail [log in to unmask]