English Professor Emeritus Dies at 81

After a distinguished Harvard career spanning more than 50 years, Porter University Professor of English Emeritus Walter Jackson Bate '39 died from cardiac arrest on Monday at Deaconess Clinical Center in Boston. He was 81 years old.

Bate was a two-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, gaining recognition for his biographical writings on John Keats in 1964 and Samuel Johnson in 1978. The Johnson biography also won the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

"He was a very intense man, intellectually," said Marquand Professor of English Emeritus David D. Perkins '51, a close friend and colleague of Bate. "He was learned but he didn't try to be, he just picked up info out of the air."

Although Bate received piles of letters about Keats and Johnson from students, colleagues and strangers, he would quickly issue carefully thought out handwritten responses to each.

"That was typical of how generous he was with his time, said Professor of English and Comparative Literature James Engell '73, a friend, colleague and former student of Bate.

"He worked hard; he never turned anybody away," Engell said.

Bate was well-known at Harvard for his exceptional lecturing.

When Bate gave his last lecture at Harvard--for his most popular course, The Age of Johnson--students, faculty colleagues, senior administrators and alumni attended to catch a final performance. The Age of Johnson regularly enrolled up to 400 students, many who took the course as an elective.

"He was a fabulously good lecturer," Perkins said. "I've never seen a class more appreciative of a lecturer."

Family and friends remember him not only for his dedication to his work but also for his kindness and generosity.

Bate, who never married and had no children of his own, often invited his nieces and nephews to spend summers with him at his New Hampshire country home.

"He was kind to bring us children into his life," said John Bate, a nephew.

A native of Indiana, Bate came to Harvard as an undergraduate--graduating summa cum laude in 1939--and never left.

He also received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University, and joined the Harvard Faculty in 1946.

He taught English at the College for forty years, and also served as chair of the Department of English during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Afterwards, he served as the chair of the Department of History and Literature.

According to his nephew, Professor Bate--who had also been a tutor in Eliot House--never quite got used to retirement.

"I think he missed [teaching], he had mixed emotions about retiring," John Bate said. "Harvard was his life."

Even after retirement, Bate maintained close ties with the University and spent many days in the office he retained in Widener Library. "He went to Widener everyday," said John Bate. "He loved that library."

Colleagues remember him as a man who had an impact on many students.

"There are a huge number of books written in his field that are dedicated to him," Engell said.

A memorial service will be held for Bate at Memorial Church in October.

He is survived by his sister, Jane Dear of Raleigh, N.C., and several nieces and nephews

A native of Indiana, Bate came to Harvard as an undergraduate--graduating summa cum laude in 1939--and never left.

He also received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University, and joined the Harvard Faculty in 1946.

He taught English at the College for forty years, and also served as chair of the Department of English during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Afterwards, he served as the chair of the Department of History and Literature.

According to his nephew, Professor Bate--who had also been a tutor in Eliot House--never quite got used to retirement.

"I think he missed [teaching], he had mixed emotions about retiring," John Bate said. "Harvard was his life."

Even after retirement, Bate maintained close ties with the University and spent many days in the office he retained in Widener Library. "He went to Widener everyday," said John Bate. "He loved that library."

Colleagues remember him as a man who had an impact on many students.

"There are a huge number of books written in his field that are dedicated to him," Engell said.

A memorial service will be held for Bate at Memorial Church in October.

He is survived by his sister, Jane Dear of Raleigh, N.C., and several nieces and nephews