LAURENTIUS ME FECIT: in memoriam CAAS Leader Dr. Lawrence E. Gaichas, emeritus Duquesne University

Click here to read online obituary published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Please read below tribute written by Henry Bender, CAAS Treasurer

Click here to read tribute in PDF format

On August 7, 2019 Lawrence E. Gaichas passed away. For long time members of CAAS, the mention of his name brings back many decades of Larry’s meticulous and patient work to produce and maintain the Directory of College and University Classicists in the United States and Canada.

The CAAS Directory consisted of four editions. Sponsored by CAAS, each was the product of exhaustive information gathering achieved through the cooperation of Duquesne University.

The first three editions, the third of which appeared in 1992, were published by Classical World and appeared in the normal binding of the Journal.  The thickness of each Directory steadily increased. Their frequent use often led to the breaking of the gum back bindings and pages would inevitably fall out.

While 1992 edition contained about 400 email addresses, under Larry’s direction, registrations utilizing the internet, email, and surface mail, grew exponentially. In four years, the Directory more than doubled reaching a data base of over 2000 classicists.

The 1996 Fourth Edition of 336 pages featured a unique metal comb back binding making the book durable and easy to use. It took its rightful place between the Liddell and Scott and Oxford Latin Dictionary on every Classicist’s desk—a tome of contact information. Proudly on its final page appeared: LAURENTIUS ME FECIT.

Larry was a personable, steady and humorous educator whose close friend and “co-conspirator” was CAAS’ unique Jerry Clack. That duo of Larry and Jerry, the Duquesne Classics core, marked many CAAS Board meetings and social gatherings. My recollections of which go back to 1981. Larry was dependable, patient, and sensible. A gifted airplane pilot, he often flew his plane at fund raising events taking small groups airborne.  He is mourned by his large family and we, his extended CAAS family, remember him with fondness.

Henry V. Bender

St Joseph’s University