To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Texas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Texas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 11/12/19 • Approved: 11/13/19 • Last Updated: 11/16/19 • R227588-G0-S3
August 5, 1930 - November 16, 2008
*Obituary
American-Statesman - November 23, 2008
John W. Velz was born 5 August, 1930 in Englewood, N.J., and grew up in Westchester County, N.Y. His B.A. (With High Distinction and Honors in English, Phi Beta Kappa) and M.A. were from the University of Michigan; his Ph.D was from the University of Minnesota (1963), where he also taught. He was also a faculty member at the College of St. Thomas (St. Paul) and Rice University before coming to the University of Texas in 1969. Upon his retirement in 1996, he was appointed Professor Emeritus.
His reference book, Shakespeare and the Classical Tradition: A Critical Guide to Commentary, 1660-1960 (1968) won citations from the American Library Association and The Association of College and Research Libraries.
John lived in the world of medieval and Elizabethan theater, mostly Shakespeare. His career and delight rested on his reputation and skill as a Shakespeare scholar, teacher and theater person. He distilled his life and career into a delightful small book, Exit Pursued by a Bear: Encounters with Shakespeare and Shakespeareans , which he had offered as a legacy of his adventures as a Shakespeare scholar. His work in the field of Shakespeare and classical studies was extensive: 6 edited collections, 60 articles, and 100 conference presentations. He was granted fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Fulbright Foundation, a Kosiuszko Foundation Fellowship for a lecture tour in Eastern and Central Europe in 1993.
He is survived by two sisters: Joanne Hart, Mary Catherine (Rusty) Jarvis; five daughters: Sue (Van) Davis, Wendy (Paul) Jennings, Jennifer (William) Campbell, Jody (Curtis) Chang, and Emily (Topish) Palit. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.
John loved the Episcopal Eucharistic service, and when able, attended the Sunday 5:30 service at All Saints. Austin. He enjoyed chopping wood, telling stories, visiting with his dear friends, and the company of his beloved dog, Rosie.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 1:00 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 209 W. 27th St., Austin Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Texas Unit; All Saints Episcopal Church; St Gregory's Abbey, OSB , in Three Rivers, MI 49008; or Shakespeare at Windale c/o the University of TX English Dept.
*Photograph courtesy of:
Oliver Shirley
Contributed on 11/12/19 by ashaw444
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 227588
Location/GPS: View Map