Hal Bush was a remarkably serious person who had a gift for being sweetly and generously unserious. My heart goes out to his family and to all of us who are poorer for the loss of his warm, bright, funny company.

Jeff Steinbrink

> On Aug 18, 2021, at 9:40 PM, James E Caron <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> words don't work
> a hug for Hiroko
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Aug 18, 2021 at 1:28 PM Kenneth Sanderson <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> 
>> He was a man, take him for all in all, we shall not look upon his like
>> again.
>> 
>> 
>> On Wed, Aug 18, 2021 at 3:55 PM Linda Morris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>>> I add my voice to all you who have expressed your fond remembrances of
>>> Hal.  He was a very special man and we all have been the richer for
>> having
>>> known him.  But even in this sadness, it is heartening to be reminded of
>>> how much we feel connected to one another over the years and the miles.
>>> It’s a remarkable community.
>>> My heartfelt sympathy to Hiroko.
>>> 
>>> Linda Morris
>>> 
>>>> On Aug 18, 2021, at 1:04 PM, L Oggel <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Sad, sad news. I remember many conversations with Hal. I second John
>>> Bird's
>>>> comment--guitar strumming at conferences. And Gregg's comment, too:
>> It’s
>>>> hard to imagine the Elmira confab sans Hal.
>>>> 
>>>> Terry Oggel
>>>> 
>>>> On Wed, Aug 18, 2021 at 12:42 PM Matthew Seybold <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Among the many contributions Hal made to Twain Studies was digging out
>>> of
>>>>> the archive what is, to my ear, Twain's finest poem, "Broken Idols," a
>>>>> meditation on grief:
>>>>> https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/ncl.2002.57.2.237
>>>>> 
>>>>> *Matt Seybold, PhD*
>>>>> Associate Professor of American Literature & Mark Twain Studies
>>>>> Scholar-in-Residence, Center for Mark Twain Studies
>>>>> Editor, MarkTwainStudies.org
>>>>> Host, The American Vandal Podcast
>>>>> <https://marktwainstudies.com/the-american-vandal-podcast/>
>>>>> 
>>>>> Peterson Chapel Vestry, Cowles Hall
>>>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>>> MattSeybold.com
>>>>> <https://www.elmira.edu/>
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Wed, Aug 18, 2021 at 3:11 PM Nathaniel Williams <
>>>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> I’m saddened and my thoughts go out to Hiroko, the family, and all
>> the
>>>>>> Twain scholars Hal helped over the years. He was such a generous
>> guy. I
>>>>>> feel lucky to have known him (and I really enjoyed his novel The
>>>>> Hemingway
>>>>>> Files—a fun read and another aspect of his far-reaching legacy of
>>>>> literary
>>>>>> scholarship).
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> [sent from phone]
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Aug 18, 2021, at 11:41 AM, Peter Messent <
>>>>>> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> We are deeply saddened to hear the news about Hal, and wish Hiroko
>>> and
>>>>>> other family members our deepest sympathy. When we were collaborating
>>> on
>>>>>> the Twain-Twichell letters, Hal shared his just-published book about
>>>>>> authors and parental grief, Continuing Bonds with the Dead, a book
>>>>> stunning
>>>>>> in its insights. We enjoyed our conversations over the years and at
>>>>> Elmira
>>>>>> conferences, and know the whole community of Mark Twain scholars will
>>>>> mourn
>>>>>> his passing.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Peter Messent
>>>>>>> Steve Courtney
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>> From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Gregg
>> Camfield
>>>>> <
>>>>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>> Sent: 18 August 2021 05:29
>>>>>>> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Hal Bush
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I had no idea when discussing with Hal his study of loss, grief, and
>>>>>> recovery, that he would force us to exercise his wisdom in dealing
>> with
>>>>>> losing him.  It’s hard to imagine the Elmira confab sans Hal.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Gregg
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Aug 18, 2021, at 6:41 AM, Bird, John C. <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> This is a sad loss. I have been following Hiroko's updates as she
>>>>>> dealt with the ups and downs of Hal's treatment. Hal will be
>> remembered
>>>>> for
>>>>>> his excellent scholarship, especially his work on Mark Twain and
>>>>> religion.
>>>>>> But we will also remember him as a lively and fun loving friend. His
>>>>> guitar
>>>>>> playing added to the comeraderie at the Elmira conference. We will
>> sing
>>>>> to
>>>>>> his memory next summer. Rest in peace, Hal!
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> John Bird
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> -------- Original message --------
>>>>>>>> From: Joseph Csicsila <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>>> Date: 8/18/21 6:50 AM (GMT-05:00)
>>>>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>>>> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Hal Bush
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hiiroko Bush shared early this morning that Hal died last night. A
>>>>>> memorial
>>>>>>>> service will be scheduled for November.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Joe Csicsila
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> CAUTION: This message originated from an external source
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> This message and any attachment are intended solely for the
>> addressee
>>>>>>> and may contain confidential information. If you have received this
>>>>>>> message in error, please contact the sender and delete the email and
>>>>>>> attachment.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not
>>>>>>> necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. Email
>>>>>>> communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored
>>>>>>> where permitted by law.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>> 
>>