Delta Kappa Epsilon - Wesleyan University

4 Delta Kappa Epsilon N orman Shapiro entered our Mystic Circle on April 3, 2020. He bore many titles and enjoyed many passions, but above all he was a dedicated DKE brother. THE POET Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Norm attended Boston Latin School and earned a bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. from Harvard University, class 1951. Norm had a passion for romance languages and pursued his doctorate in French. He traveled to Paris on a Fulbright Scholarship in 1955. Known for his translation of French classics, poetry, and novels, he received many awards. Four Farces by George Feydeau was nominated for a National Book Award, and in 2011, the French government promoted Norm to the rank of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic. The honor marks the achievement of a lifetime dedicated to translation of the spread of French culture. Norm was also a longstanding member of the American Academy of Poets. He was a fixture at Harvard's Adam House, as writer in residence. He advised undergraduate students on their writings and produced plays. Language, languages, and word-play were his world. This was a gift passed down to him by his poet mother. Norm once wrote, "My French women poets anthology bears a dedication to the loving memory of the first woman poet I ever knew, my mother. Poetry was always in the house, in the air." THE PROFESSOR Norm arrived at Wesleyan in 1960 as a professor of romance languages and literatures. He stepped down from regular duties in 2017 but continued in his roles as Distinguished Professor of Literary Translation and Poet in Residence. In addition, Norm also taught American Sign Language. "Norm knew laughter and spent his life evoking smiles, witticisms, mirth, and linguistic enjoyment in writing, in speaking, in life," said Joyce Lowrie, professor of romance languages and literatures, emerita. "He will be missed by students, readers of his magnificent translations, by colleagues, and friends." OUR BROTHER Norm was a world-class talent in every endeavor he chose to pursue—scholar and academician, translator, raconteur, hypnotist. While the term Renaissance man is commonly invoked, Norm was the rare exception for whom that lofty appellation was entirely appropriate. Despite the numerous honors bestowed upon him professionally, undoubtedly his legacy will most prominently live on through his profound influence on scores of DKE brothers in Wesleyan's Gamma Phi Chapter of the International Fraternity, where Norm served as faculty advisor for over 50 years. Norm's avuncular presence in and around the DKE house impacted hundreds of DKE brothers through the years. Virtually every single one has an anecdote describing their interaction with Norm. His generosity of spirit was simply unmatched. His constant dispensing of advice, support, and occasional prodding was always shrouded in the context of boosting the confidence of those on the receiving end. Norm's example in assisting generations of DKE undergrads and alumni underscored to all the very essence of brotherhood. "The DKE motto reads: Friends from the heart forever. No one had a bigger heart than Norm and for those of us privileged to have known him, his memory will live on forever. Norm Shapiro, gentleman, scholar and jolly good fellow, those are the three attributes that define a DKE brother," wrote Dave Thomas '77. "No one epitomized them more than Norm. Rest in Peace, Brother Shapiro." When we can, we will have a fitting tribute to Norm at the DKE house. In Memoriam DKE Remembers the Many Facets of Norman Shapiro

• Cover