In memoriam

September 24, 2024 

Christopher G. Levey, associate professor emeritus of engineering and former director of Thayer's instructional laboratories, died Sept. 24 after a long battle with cancer. He was 69.

"Chris truly made engineering come alive for our students, and he is an important reason why Thayer is a place where students can roll up their sleeves and dive into engineering from the get-go," said Alexis Abramson, dean of Thayer School of Engineering.

Levey, who grew up in Berea, Kentucky, earned his bachelor's degree from Carleton College and his PhD in physics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He completed his post-doctoral research at Bell Labs, before joining Dartmouth in 1986, first as an assistant professor of physics, then in 1993, joined Thayer School of Engineering as an associate professor of engineering. He taught students, managed the school's instructional labs and project spaces, and produced active research until his retirement in 2022.

"Chris was a true believer in Thayer's unique blend of excellence in hands-on education, meaningful research, and societal impact," said Professor Douglas Van Citters, Thayer's associate dean for undergraduate education who has worked closely with Levey. "More than a participant, he was a leader in each."

In his role as director of instructional labs, Levey helped shape technical instruction and provided guidance and support for nearly every engineering course with a lab or project component. He contributed to the vision and design of Thayer's two major buildings — MacLean Engineering Sciences Center, which opened in 2006, and the Class of 1982 Engineering and Computer Science Center, which opened in 2022. 

A materials scientist and researcher, Levey and his microengineering laboratory team were the first, in 2005, to develop the world's smallest untethered mobile robots. For years, Levey was also a pivotal figure in planning and executing Thayer's Open House, a popular annual event that drew the broader Upper Valley community to campus for live science demonstrations and hands-in, interactive engineering activities.

Along with his wife Barbara DeFelice, director emerita of scholarly communications at Dartmouth Library, and son Nacio, Levey performed in the The Christmas Revels with Revels North, in which he sang, danced, and directed the ritual dances which trace their roots to pre-Christian England.

Information for a Celebration of Life for Levey will be announced as it becomes available.

September 19, 2024

Barry Scherr, professor emeritus of Russian language and literature, died on Sept. 12 at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care in Lebanon, N.H., with his loving family by his side. He was 79.

"One of the foremost authorities on Russian poetics and versification, Barry was a legendary professor, colleague, and administrator known as much for his incisive and wide-ranging scholarly interests as for his generosity of spirit," Dean Elizabeth F. Smith said in a message to the Arts and Sciences community. "Generations of students and colleagues at Dartmouth and around the world found inspiration in his generous leadership and mentorship, and he will be dearly missed."

Scherr grew up in Enfield, Conn., where he helped out on his family's poultry farm. He went to public schools through ninth grade, then received a scholarship to Suffield Academy, from which he graduated 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. At that time, Harvard was home to several distinguished Russian scholars, including linguist Roman Jakobson—and unexpectedly, Scherr discovered his passion for Russian literature.

After graduating from Harvard in 1966 as a Slavic languages and literatures major, Scherr headed to the University of Chicago to pursue his PhD. During the 1969-70 academic year, he conducted research for his dissertation on the writer Alexander Grin in what was then the Soviet Union, 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 before joining the Dartmouth faculty in the summer of 1974.

At Dartmouth, Scherr primarily taught 19th and 20th century Russian fiction, comparative literature, and Russian film. He also co-led the creation of a three-way exchange program between Moscow State University and the Russian and environmental studies departments, and he led the first Dartmouth student group to Moscow. He was promoted to associate professor in 1977 and full professor in 1983.

Scherr's 1986 book, Russian Poetry: Meter, Rhythm, and Rhyme, covered the entire Russian verse tradition and catapulted him to the forefront of scholarship on Russian poetics. 

"In Russian versification, Barry was considered by his peer colleagues in Russia to be 'one of their own,'" Professor Emeritus of Russian and Comparative Literature John Kopper recalls. "I can think of only a handful of American Russianists who commanded this level of professional respect in Russia."

As a scholar, Scherr was deeply engaged by questions of verse within the Russian tradition and from a comparative perspective. He was also known for his thoughtful investigations of early 20th century Russian literature, translation, Russian-Jewish writers, and film, with articles in academic publications including Slavic Review, the Slavic and East European Journal, and the International Journal of Slavic Linguistics and Poetics. Among his many publications, he co-edited the essay collection Eisenstein at 100: A Reconsideration with the late professor emeritus of film and media studies Al LaValley.

Scherr served as chair of his professional association, the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages, for several years and he also served on the editorial board of the Slavic and East European Journal. 

All the while, Scherr was a widely admired leader at Dartmouth. He served as provost for eight years, from 2001 to 2009, and was especially effective in championing the arts and humanities. Brian Kennedy, director of the Hood Museum of Art during that time, recalls Scherr's constant support and enthusiasm.

"He loved the arts, and on many occasions I appreciated his dancing eyes, his face in a smile, ready to laugh heartily," Kennedy says. "He reveled in an exciting idea, ever curious, and was prepared to take risks—notably supporting the Hood's display of Chinese artist Wenda Gu's eighty-by-thirteen-foot screen, 'The Green House', in the Dartmouth Library corridors, made from hair gathered from thousands of haircuts of people in the Dartmouth and regional communities. Of course Barry, and his great friend, Dartmouth President Jim Wright, contributed some of theirs too!"

Together with Kennedy and Jon Cohen, former chairman of the Hood, Scherr helped raise $50 million for the museum.

Susan DeBevoise Wright, who served as executive director of the Montgomery Fellows program during her tenure as Dartmouth's first lady, remembers collaborating with Scherr when he led a faculty ad hoc committee in the selection of fellows. 

"He enriched students' learning outside of the classroom by enabling them to meet informally at Montgomery House with celebrated writers, artists, scientists, and government and military officials, such as Edward Albee, Joan Didion, Merce Cunningham, and—to Barry's utmost delight—Roz Chast," she says. "Barry's vastly capacious intellect was rivaled only by his sense of humor."

Scherr served as associate dean for the humanities from 1997 to 2001, when his planning and fundraising efforts enabled Dartmouth to found the Leslie Center for the Humanities. He also served as chair of the Russian department for several years, beginning in 1981, and on numerous committees. In these myriad roles he earned genuine respect from colleagues across Dartmouth for his diligence, equanimity, and kindness.

"As a department administrator and dean, he was completely devoid of personal animus, blind to prejudice, and capable of refereeing any dispute impartially—a rock of judiciousness," Kopper says.

"I always felt he treated everyone with respect and kindness no matter your position at Dartmouth," says Carol Bean-Carmody, administrative assistant in the Comparative Literature Program. Awed by his vast knowledge, she recalls his studious organization of the hundreds of books in the Russian seminar room.

Following his retirement from Dartmouth in 2012, Scherr continued to research and write until his illness prevented him from doing so. He also taught courses through Dartmouth's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Scherr remained so active professionally as he entered retirement that when Kopper and a colleague set out to create a festschrift, they weren't sure when to time the publication.

"For the bibliography we eventually set an artificial cutoff date of 2015, three years after his retirement, with many works left off that were still in progress on Barry's desk," Kopper says.

The resulting volume, "A Convenient Territory:" Russian Literature at the Edge of Modernity Essays in Honor of Scherr Scherr, includes contributions from many colleagues at other universities whom Scherr had mentored, as well as alums of the Russian department who had become academics across the country. "For a humanities department like ours—and a small department at that—Dartmouth Russian produced an impressive number of future PhDs during Barry's tenure," Kopper says. 

In addition to mentoring junior colleagues and emerging scholars across the country, Scherr stayed in touch with several of his students over many decades. He corresponded with former students regularly and was cherished for his positive, soft-spoken mentorship.

In a 2020 Q&A in the Slavic and East European Blog with Ainsley Morse, associate professor of East European, Eurasian, and Russian studies, Scherr reflected on his education, career, and advice for young scholars.

"I guess my final bit of advice would be not to be too intimidated by all that's out there now," he said. "It might be that there's so much out there it's hard not to be intimidated, but in terms of the scholarship and everything else, just pick and choose, work your way through it and you can get there."

Scherr and his wife, Sylvia, lived in Norwich for nearly 50 years, where he tended flower, vegetable, and herb gardens, and enjoyed observing the hummingbirds that came to his feeder. He also took great pleasure in spending time with his children, David and Sonia, who inherited his love of literature and learning.

Alfia Rakova, director of the Russian Language Program, remembers meeting Scherr at her job interview in the cold January of 2007. "I immediately felt the warmth of the Russian department, professors, and students," she says. "In his soft-spoken voice he expressed so much knowledge and love about the Russian language and literature that I thought how wonderful it would be to teach at Dartmouth."

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

The Dartmouth flag will be lowered on Thursday, Sept. 26, and Friday, Sept. 27, in Scherr's honor. 

August 25, 2024 

The first inorganic chemist to join the faculty, Soderberg was instrumental to the design and construction of Burke Laboratory. 

Roger Soderberg, professor emeritus of chemistry, died on Aug. 25. He was 88 years old and resided at Kendal at Hanover. 

"Over the course of more than four decades at Dartmouth, Roger was widely respected as an inorganic chemist, an engaging teacher, and as a phenomenally dedicated university citizen," Dean Elizabeth F. Smith said in a message to the Arts and Sciences community. "With his collaborative and convivial manner, and passion for the natural beauty of the Upper Valley, he made lasting contributions to our campus and enhanced the lives of countless colleagues, students, and friends." 

Soderberg was born in 1936 in Berwyn, Illinois. He attended Elgin High School and went on to earn a degree in chemistry in 1958 from Grinnell College, where he met Mary Kincaid, to whom he was married until her death in 2003. Soderberg earned his PhD in inorganic chemistry from MIT as a National Science Foundation predoctoral fellow under the guidance of the renowned chemist Albert Cotton. His graduate work involved fundamental research on the inorganic complexes of cobalt and nickel, with studies published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. 

Soderberg joined the Dartmouth faculty in 1962 as an instructor of chemistry—and the first inorganic chemist to join the department. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1964, associate professor in 1969, and full professor in 1976. At Dartmouth, Soderberg continued his work in inorganic chemistry with publications on both nickel and palladium chemistry. Seminal research he pioneered in 1972 described the first chelate complexes of an iodonium cation, an exciting new area. 

"Thanks to Roger's discovery," chemistry professor emerita Gordon Gribble says, "these novel species are finding use in organic synthesis." 

In subsequent years, and in collaboration with the late dean and chemistry professor James Hornig, Soderberg turned his attention to air pollution in the Upper Valley as emanating from wood smoke. He focused on the presence of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are ubiquitous in wood smoke and a clear factor in human lung cancer. 

As a teacher, Soderberg was known for his engaging lectures and high standards. He was especially dedicated to mentoring undergraduates who arrived at Dartmouth without prior advanced coursework in science. He taught general chemistry and inorganic chemistry, and in the 1980s, with revived student interest in sustainability, he also took the lead in teaching environmental chemistry and developing affiliated lab exercises. 

Admired by colleagues as an outstanding administrator, Soderberg was instrumental to the design and construction of Burke Laboratory, the chemistry department's state-of-the-art home, which was completed in 1992. In recognition of his efforts, the department presented Soderbergwith a special plaque. 

"Roger jumped to take the lead on the design of the building and worked closely with the architects and fellow administrators to make it happen," professor of chemistry Dean Wilcox recalls. "The department is eternally grateful to him for that enormous effort, which was the crowning achievement of his career."

Soderberg's wide-ranging interests also made a lasting impression on his peers. "One of the things that especially impressed me about Soderberg was his broad range of knowledge about a range of things—not only chemistry but also engineering and history," Albert W. Smith Professor of Chemistry Emeritus David Lemal recalls. 

An avid hiker, Soderberg led several expeditions with colleagues to the White Mountains and woods around the Upper Valley. He was also a well-recognized figure riding his bicycle around Hanover.

Colleagues treasured Soderberg's upbeat, friendly presence, and recall how he frequently joined David Lemal and fellow Dartmouth chemists Chuck Braun and Water Stockmayer for lunch—such that they were known as the "Norwich for lunch bunch." 

After he retired from Dartmouth in 2004, Soderberg continued to meet colleagues for faculty lunches on campus, even when he was bound to his wheelchair—reportedly always in good cheer.

He often told people that he had "the best job in the world."

Soderberg is preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his son Dan (Silvia); his parents, Victor and Grace (Hamilton) Soderberg; his brother Dick (Mim) and sister Jean. He is survived by his younger sister Nancy Harrold (Jack), son Tim (Naoko), and grandchildren Eduardo, Marisol, Jorge, Midori, and Kentaro, along with an extended family. A memorial service will be held at Kendal at Hanover at a later date.

In Soderberg's honor, the Dartmouth flag will be lowered on Sept. 10 and 11.

August 19, 2024

Peter Saccio, Leon Black Professor Emeritus of Shakespearean Studies and Professor of English, died on Aug. 19. He was 83 years old. 

"A brilliant and beloved professor and celebrated Shakespearean scholar, Peter was a sought-after luminary for countless Dartmouth students, colleagues, and alumni, as well as friends from across the country and abroad, over the course of more than four decades on the faculty and for many years after," Dean Elizabeth F. Smith said in a message to the Arts and Sciences community. "With his remarkable erudition, spirited wit, and deep sense of humanity, Peter made a lasting impact on our campus, the Upper Valley performing arts community, and far beyond."

Saccio was born in 1941 in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Bethlehem, Connecticut. He discovered his love of Shakespeare as a child and chose to attend Yale University to pursue a career in drama. Although he persuaded Yale's drama department to produce Henry VI, the king role went instead to his classmate, Sam Waterston—an experience that prompted Saccio to recognize his relative strengths and set his sights on scholarship. He earned a BA in philosophy at Yale, followed by a PhD in English from Princeton University, where he held Woodrow Wilson and Jacobus fellowships.

Saccio joined the faculty at Dartmouth in 1966, teaching primarily Shakespeare and modern British drama. He served as vice chair and chair of the Department of English, and was successively given two endowed chairs at Dartmouth, the Willard Professorship in Oratory and Drama and the Leon D. Black Professorship in Shakespearean Studies. He retired in 2007.

In addition to many scholarly articles on Shakespeare and reviews of professional productions, Saccio authored two books, The Court Comedies of John Lyly: A Study in Allegorical Dramaturgy (1969) and Shakespeare's English Kings: History, Chronicle, and Drama (1977). The latter became a classic in the field, and to Saccio's delight, a popular resource for actors and directors seeking to understand their characters. He also edited Thomas Middleton's comedy A Mad World, My Masters, for the Oxford Complete Works of Thomas Middleton.

In 1990, the Teaching Company (now Great Courses) began recording and marketing scholarly lectures, and Saccio's lectures on Shakespeare were among the original eight that were offered and distributed on CDs and DVDs. The lectures brought Saccio to audiences around the world, who sang his praises. "Professor Saccio's love affair with Shakespeare resounds clearly through all his talks," one student wrote. "His enthusiasm is infectious; it is serious but relieved with humor and asides where appropriate."

Saccio was also regularly invited to deliver lectures at major theatrical venues, including Shakespeare's Globe in London, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, and the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Minnesota. He gave lectures to Dartmouth Alumni Clubs across the country, often collaborating with the late Charles Wood, Daniel Webster Professor of History, and on alumni cruises in Europe. He also lectured extensively in public libraries for the Vermont Humanities Council.

At Dartmouth, Saccio's classes were often oversubscribed and he was cited as a favorite professor by many alumni, including the Class of 1971. The recipient of the John M. Manley Huntington Award for Outstanding Teaching, he was especially admired for combining his vast knowledge of Shakespeare with practical insights about theater production.

"He had a real sense of how performances are created," recalls Professor of Theater Peter Hackett '75. "My friends and I who were leaning towards acting, directing, and design had great affection for Saccio because he was able to open up the world of Shakespeare as well as our understanding of how these plays were brought to life."

Among Saccio's most active commitments at Dartmouth was the welfare of gay and lesbian students. He was faculty advisor to the gay student organization (which had several different names during the 1980s and 1990s) and chair of the Board of Trustees of the Edward Carpenter Foundation, a private foundation established with alumni gifts at a time when Dartmouth did not choose to accept donations for gay and lesbian causes. In 1992, he taught the English department's first course in gay literature.

"He was a tremendous pioneer for gay and lesbian students at Dartmouth at a time when it was not typical," says Colin Partridge '72, a former student who became Saccio's lifelong friend.

Associate Professor of English Melissa Zeiger recalls Saccio's kindness as a colleague, and how he championed gay authors with sensitivity and care. "In the midst of sad times, including the AIDS epidemic, he was able to celebrate the joyousness of gay literary production," she says.

"The way our culture has been run for 1,000 years, if you're gay you're alone," Saccio said in an interview with Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. "Some people start out thinking they're the only people in the world like this."

"Literature does illuminate life," he continued. "It can extend our experience beyond the range of one person."

Saccio's late partner, James Steffensen, was a professor of drama at Dartmouth beginning in 1980. The pair often collaborated professionally, including in the leading of students and alumni to London for theater-focused study and tours, often in association with the Hopkins Center for the Arts. With Steffensen and after his death, Saccio regularly kept in touch with many former Dartmouth students, often serving as a patient listener and trusted advisor both professionally and personally.

When Vermont's Northern Stage was founded in 1997, Saccio quickly befriended its founding director and became an ardent supporter. When Peter Hackett and his wife, Carol Dunne, joined Dartmouth's theater faculty, Saccio introduced them to the company—ultimately leading to Dunne taking its helm as artistic director in 2013. In addition to serving as an artistic advisor and acting in several productions, Saccio was on Northern Stage's Board of Directors for several years and remained connected long after he stepped down.

Saccio's own acting credits include the Shakespearean roles of Casca, Angelo, and Bassanio, as well as various parts in ancient and modern plays. And it was at Dartmouth, finally, when he played the role of the king in a production of Henry IV in the Moore Theater.

Saccio is survived by his sister, Mary Anne Gateley of Searcy, Ark.; his brother and sister-in-law Edward and Joyce Saccio of Havana, Florida; four nieces and nephews, four great-nieces, and a great-nephew.

A memorial service will take place on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Church in Hanover.

Donations in Saccio's memory may be made to St. Thomas' Church, Northern Stage, a gay/AIDS charity or support group of the donor's choice, or to the Professor James L. Steffensen Memorial Fund at Dartmouth, which Saccio established to further Steffensen's work in the education of theater students.

In Saccio's honor, the Dartmouth flag will be lowered on Wednesday, Sept. 11, and Thursday, Sept. 12.