Bill Weaver (1923–2013)
From: Leon Botstein
It is with sadness that I inform the Bard community of the death of William Weaver, a beloved member of our faculty. He was a dominant personality on campus from 1992 to 2002. He lived on campus for several years after his retirement from teaching. His home, which is now the Hannah Arendt Center, was a beacon of warmth and generosity to students and faculty. His contribution to the literary and cultural life of the College was extraordinary. It is through him that the College received the endowment that created the Bard Fiction Prize.
After World War II, William Weaver lived in Italy and became the leading translator of Italian literature into English. He was also one of the foremost experts in the field of opera, particularly Verdi, and his knowledge of the Italian repertoire was unrivaled. He is perhaps best known for his translations of Italo Calvino and Umberto Eco. But the list of Italian writers he brought to the English reading public is nothing short of astonishing. He was a great translator, writer, and teacher. It was an honor and a privilege to call him a friend and a colleague.
William Weaver was 90 at the time of his death. He will be buried in his native Virginia. He was a graduate of Princeton. His choice to teach at Bard upon returning to the United States was a sign of respect and affection for the College. He decided to make Bard his home after considering offers from his alma mater and Williams College.
Post Date: 11-12-2013