https://curecordarchive.library.columbia.edu/?a=d&d=cr19970418-01.2.27&e...

April 18, 1997

Howard Hugh Schless, professor emeritus of English at Columbia and a specialist in medieval and restoration English literature, died of complications from cancer Mar. 30 at his home in New Canaan, Conn.  He was 72.

Born in Philadelphia on Oct. 6, 1924, he entered Harvard in 1941.  His academic career was interrupted by service in World War II as a medic.  After the war he returned to Harvard, receiving his A.B. with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1949.  He received his M.A. from Yale in 1951 and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1956.

He joined Columbia's department of English and comparative literature in 1956 as an instructor; he was named assistant professor in 1958, associate professor in 1962 and full professor in 1969.  He retired and received emeritus designation in 1992.

From 1980 to 1983 he was director of graduate studies in the department and for many years he was president of Columbia's Phi Beta Kappa chapter.  He was also one of the founders of Columbia University Senate, in 1969.

He authored several publications including Dante and Chaucer and Poems on Affairs of State.

After retiring, he contributed his scholarly library to the Bibliotheca Scriptorum SJ (the Jesuit Library) of Cracow, Poland, to help alleviate the shortage of books at that instituion.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, the former Anne-Edmee Boulade Marouil; a son, Eric High Schless of Old Greenwich, Conn.; two daughters, Anne-Ghilaine Marino of Concord, Mass., and Anne-Nicole Schless of Madison, Conn., and six grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Apr. 5 at the Friends Meeting House in Wilton, Conn. Contributions in his memory may be made to the New Canaan Library, 151 Main St., New Canaan, Conn.