Walter LaFeber, revered history professor, dies | Cornell Chronicle

Great subjects are illuminated best by small dramas, Altschuler said, quoting Nobelist V.S. Naipaul, at LaFeber s retirement in 2004. And so it is with Walt LaFeber. Justly celebrated for his teaching and scholarship, Walt is great, truly great, in my judgment, because of the way he lives each day, unfailingly attentive to students, staff and colleagues, a yes man when Cornell asks, and patient, at least outwardly, as his Chicago Cubs disappoint, year in and year out. He is Midwestern mensch the best thing that s happened to Cornell in the last half-century.

via news.cornell.edu

I just learned that Walter LaFeber died. He was a great teacher and very supportive of and patient with me. I will never forget him. I came to disagree with his politics and now come to partly agree with them again. A great teacher and a great man.