David R. Lenson ’67 *71

Dave died Oct. 2, 2020, at age 75.

He graduated from Nutley (N.J.) High School, where he was class treasurer, associate editor of the yearbook, president of the debate and chess clubs, and member of the honor society.At Princeton, he roomed with Steve Chernicoff, Jim Kostman, Art Snyder, Jon Friedman, and Mike Dobson in 1922 Hall. He contributed stories and poems while working on the Nassau Lit and won most of the awards the English Department administered, including the Bain-Swiggertt Poetry, the Ward Mathis Short Story, the Junior English, and Class of 1870 Sophomore English prizes. Dave naturally stayed on in the Graduate School for four more years, earning a Ph.D. in comparative literature before beginning, at age 26, a distinguished career as professor of comparative literature at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, from which he retired after a long career.

At UMass he served eight years as editor of the Massachusetts Review magazine and hosted its radio show on the local station WMUA. He served a term as president of the faculty union and published two books of poetry and three scholarly volumes. Dave was not just a writer but an accomplished lifelong saxophone musician who played with several sax legends and for many years a local band, the Reprobate Blues Band.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Pamela; daughter Lizzie; and brother Barry. The class lost a remarkably talented man.