Laurence Honoré Anthony Michel, of South Bristol, died Dec. 24 at the Maine Medical Center, Portland.
Born in Charleston, S.C., Aug. 17, 1916, he was the son of Laurence Anthony and Sidonie Soubeyroux Michel, brother to Yvonne Ravenel and Julian DuFort Michel.
Having received his B.A. in 1937 at the College of Charleston, Laurence went on to Fordham University for an M.A. and Ph.D in English literature, his field the Renaissance and the works of William Shakespeare. Before he had the chance to start a career, WWII began and for him started at the Brooklyn Naval Yard where he enlisted as Ensign.
His active duty was in Communications during the building, launching and commissioning of the new battleship, Iowa, where he joined the ship as “plank owner.” The ship took part in the Atlantic Terpitz Watch, carried FDR to and from the Teheran Conference, and then sailed to the Pacific for the Japanese surrender. Laurence returned to New York as personal aide to the Commandant of the yard and the Third Naval District. He was discharged from active duty in 1946 and retired from the USNR with the rank of Commander in 1968.
His teaching career began at Yale University (English language and literature) 1946-1955, and after moving to Buffalo, N.Y., at Canisius College 1955-1960 and the State University of New York at Buffalo (English Dept., Associate Dean of the graduate school). He retired from the SUNY campus as Professor Emeritus in 1981. The subject of his publications centered on literary criticism and English tragedy: modern editions of two works by Samuel Daniel: Philotus and The Civil Wars Between the Houses of York and Lancaster, editor with R.B. Sewall of Tragedy: Modern Essays in Criticism, and his book, The Thing Contained: Theory of the Tragic. He also was the author of lectures, articles, and reviews in scholarly and literary periodicals.
Laurence met Marion Alexander, a caseworker specializing in adoption, in New Haven, Conn., whom he married in April of 1948. They built a loving life, together 57 years, in Connecticut, New York, and South Bristol where they retired in 1981. As a life-long sailor, the lure of summers in Maine called constantly, at times meaning his children ‘had’ to leave school a little early but always with the summer reading list in the trunk. With a passion for music, Laurence played the flute and piano, sang in Buffalo’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, and was a member of the choir at the South Bristol Union Church as well as other local choral groups.
During his most recent years, Laurence suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, his care being overseen by the extraordinary staff at Cove’s Edge, Damariscotta. Their passion for helping the residents through such debilitating disease gave him dignity; we are so grateful for this kindness. His life from beginning to conclusion was buoyed by faith, strengthened by compassion, annealed by hearth and home.
In the words of his Bard:
Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
It was always Hamlet.
He is survived by his children, Toby, Christopher, Margaret, and Laurence; and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be planned for the coming summer.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coast of Maine Cremation Services, Waldoboro.
