Obituary of James M. Rambeau

James M. Rambeau, 82, of State College, beloved husband of Christina and father of Elizabeth, died June 16. He was a witty and kind gentleman known for his devotion to teaching and fishing.

Son of Laurence Decatur Rambeau and Elizabeth Spencer Sheetz, Rambeau was born August 2, 1938, in Philadelphia. He attended a one-room school in Northville, Michigan, and graduated from Kenyon College and from Rutgers University where he received his Ph.D.

After teaching at the University of Virginia for several years, Rambeau joined the English Department at Penn State in American and English Literature in 1970. He retired in 2002.

In addition to teaching, for which he received several awards, he held a number of administrative posts. He was director of the University Scholars program, now known as the Schreyer's Honors College; associate dean for Liberal Arts; associate dean for undergraduate education for the university; a member of the faculty senate; a Fulbright Scholar in Bulgaria; and a visiting professor at the University of Kent, England.

Among his favorite courses were Original Sin in American Literature, American Public Poetry and American Comedy. He co-authored Agitations: Letters to the Press by Bernard Shaw and several volumes of the Bibliography of Henry James. He also published reviews in The Virginia Quarterly, and essays in Queens Quarterly.

Rambeau was a long-time member of the Literary Club, played a good game of tennis and an even better one of squash. He loved the family cottage on Georgian Bay. When the cry went up for fish, out he would go and bring in fresh bass for dinner.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Decatur Rambeau of Pittsburgh, her husband Matthew Peterson, and his grandchildren, Sophia MacGregor Peterson, James Benjamin Peterson, and Eleanor Sedgwick Peterson, as well as his sister Catharine Spencer Rambeau. He was pre-deceased by a brother, George Moore Rambeau, and son, Benjamin.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the James Rambeau Honors Thesis Research Grant in the Humanities or to Special Collections at Pattee Library. Penn State Office of gift planning, 212 The 103 Building, University Park, PA 16802, giftplanning@psu.edu

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfunerlahome.com.