Beloved husband, father, stepfather, and professor, Jesper Rosenmeier died suddenly April 3, 2014, while walking across the university campus he loved, Tufts.
Jesper was born June 20, 1934, in Tveje Merløse, Denmark, and came to the United States in 1954. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Princeton and a Ph.D. in history from Harvard University.
Jesper taught early American literature at Tufts for more than 50 years. He founded the interdisciplinary American Studies program, eventually winning the Mary C. Turpie Award from the American Studies Association for “excellence in teaching and outstanding contribution locally and regionally.” In addition to numerous essays and reviews, he wrote The Language of Canaan (1976) and Spiritual Concupiscence: John Cotton’s English Years, 1584-1633 (2012). His students praised him for his compassion, creativity, and dedication.
Jesper’s life revolved around his family. He especially loved spending summers on Prince Edward Island, Canada, with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
His wife of 44 years, Rosamond, died in 2011. Heartbroken after her death, he moved to Annisquam, Mass., where he found healing and a new community. He is survived by his children, Jason Field (Susan Moreno), Twyla Ramos (Manuel Ramos), Alan Field (Louisa Terrell), Peter Rosenmeier (Sara Smith), and Leah Morine Rosenmeier (Randall Morine); 12 grandchildren; and fiancé Anne Babson Carter.