The Journal of Provincial Thought

return to jptHome

luminance

It is not possible to convey how terribly it hurts to deliver the surreal news of Dr. Bill Schafer’s death just days ago.  I have not begun to come to terms with it, and can attempt little in the way of a formal and fitting eulogy at this time.  Details as related to me by Bill’s beloved wife Martha indicate an acute medical problem that struck out of the blue as the two were preparing to fly off to Europe on another of their spirited international sojourns. 

The tragedy has taken from us a unique, amazingly sophisticated and complex man with great passion for exploring life’s offerings, phenomena, incidents and implications.  His vast range of interests and expertise made him the modern-day Renaissance Man of high accomplishment, but to his adoring college students through the years, myself included, it was the human warmth, the care, the generosity with his time and talents, and the richness of Bill’s easy humor that made him our hero.  As he shall remain.     

The towers and vaults of JPT are shaken dreadfully, and little now is certain except that we shall try to find our way not so much in the dark as in the luminosity of Bill’s spirit and his legacy, both of which from our foundation infuse every brick.  As Bill and I were not bound to publishing our JPT issues strictly “on time” (though we have generally done so), if our September 5 release should be postponed a few days there seems no slight to Bill’s expectations.  I’ll just ask for the understanding of readers and scheduled contributors in return for my promise that we will present as soon as is practical—as soon as I can pick myself off the floor and carry on.

But be sure, this JPT ship will never sail the same.  There is no replacing The Admiral’s presence, which was virtually everywhere.  His inspired, gleeful and seemingly spontaneous diggings into diverse and unexpected topics, the scholarly intensity and literary pizazz he brought to their exposition, the uniquely Schafer insights and turns of phrase, the editorial guidance and wisdom, are lost to us beyond the works now on hand.  You have read many of these perhaps without realizing they were written by Bill under one or another preposterous name. 

When to Martha Schafer I lamented the incalculable hit JPT will suffer to its intellectual content (both of us in the be-focused mode of people functioning in shock), she humorously rebuked me, “That’s right, Charlie, just tell everybody ‘No more intellectual content in JPT.’”  I laughed the laugh of pain, knowing immediately that’s exactly what I’d cry to the world.  So, we make it official:

More about Bill will be dispensed as future issues launch.  Now I stand in grief with all of you who hold close his memory, even as we anticipate the countless occasions we will have to remember and celebrate his life.  For this moment suffice to say that Dr. William John Schafer (1937-2009), my perpetual teacher, counselor and friend, will be dearly, dearly missed.

—William C. Smith, Jr.
Thursday August 20, 2009

Return to jptHOME

Bill has Gone