University Times

Long-time Pitt English professor and medieval scholar Mary Elizabeth David, who published and translated children’s literature under her maiden name Mary Elizabeth Meek, died Nov. 17, 2003, of kidney failure. She was 79.

A Mass in her memory will be celebrated Dec. 6, 5:15 p.m., at the Congregation of the Oratory, 4450 Bayard St., Oakland.

Recruited to Pitt in 1970 as a medievalist, David taught courses in Old English, Middle English, a survey of medieval literature, Chaucer, the Pearl poet, Arthurian literature and the history of the English language, according to David Bartholomae, English department chair.

She also prepared pronunciation tapes of Old English and Middle English for the University’s language laboratory, Bartholomae said.

David earned a bachelor’s degree from Wells College (New York) in 1946, followed by a master’s in 1947 supported by a Derby Fellowship at Ohio State University. She was a Phi Beta Kappa, graduate chapter, at Radcliffe College, Harvard University, earning a Ph.D. in medieval literature in 1956.

Prior to coming to Pitt, David taught at SUNY-Cortland, Bryn Mawr College and Indiana University in Bloomington.

According to Robert Hinman, who was English department chair at Pitt 1973-1977, David was “a very fine lady and probably the most learned person in the department. She translated medieval writings from Latin and French; she knew Old English; she knew Greek; she taught Chaucer, and she was a very good teacher.”

Hinman said David never tired of doing new things, despite failing health in recent years. “She was interested in new experiences, especially travel and theatre. She was always on the go.” Hinman said David had traveled to Europe as recently as fall 2002, the last of many European and other travel ventures.

He said that two days before her death, David attended the Globe Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” locally, after securing permission to be released temporarily from West Penn Hospital.

“She was, herself, the host of an annual twelfth night party,” each January, Bartholomae added.

“In addition, she had a deep interest in children’s literature,” Bartholomae said. “Mary Elizabeth published two editions of fairy tales and she helped to develop the earliest form of our program in children’s literature, which she directed until her retirement in 1995.”

David was a member of the Modern Language Association and the Medieval Academy of America. She served on several academic committees at Pitt, including the medieval and Renaissance studies executive committee, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences ad hoc tenure review committee and the departmental library committee.
She is survived by her brother, Thomas Meek, of Newton, Conn.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Congregation of the Oratory in her name.

—Peter Hart