Paul Properzio (Boston Latin Academy), Ovatio read by Judith Hallett (University of Maryland, College Park)
Sicut cives huius amantissimae urbis omnes incolas eius tamquam germanos germanasque diligunt, sic hodie celebramus magistrum doctissimum et alacerrimum ut fratrem dilectissimum nobis habendum. Postquam apud Universitatem civitatis ex duriore lapide factae gradum Baccalaurei Artium accepit, gradus Magistri Artium et Doctoris Philosophiae apud Universitatem se affirmantem ad maiorem dei gloriam in urbe ventosa meruit. Multos annos laboravit in hac regione patriae nostrae et pro societate nostra, quibus servivit nobiliter in officio praesidis. Plurimos annos docuit in urbe pulchra propter pedes peregrinorum, illustri propter pedes textis rubris cinctos, apud venerabilem sedem disciplinae Latinae. Studiosus linguarum variarum, investigavit antiquas gentes tunsas longe resonantibus Eoissimis undis, causa comparandorum scriptorum et consuetudinum eorum cum operibus moribusque antiquorum Graecorum et Romanorum. Dux et vox foederis classici patriae nostrae, honoratus propter praestantiam docendi, sicut docta puella dicitur cepisse poetam antiquum eiusdem nominis ocellis, cepit nos diligentia. Plaudamus igitur Paul Properzio.
Just as the citizens of this city, Philadelphia, cherish all of her inhabitants like sisters and brothers, so today we celebrate a most learned and energetic teacher who ought to be considered a most dearly beloved brother figure to us. After he received his BA from the University of New Hampshire, the Granite State, he earned his MA and PhD degrees at Loyola University in Chicago. For many years he worked in this region and for our association, which he nobly served as president; for a great many years he has taught in Boston, at its esteemed Latin Academy. Proficient in many languages, he has studied ancient Chinese culture, comparing its customs and literature with those of classical Greece and Rome. An exemplary leader of the American Classical League, whose newsletter he edited for ten years, honored by the American Philological Association for outstanding teaching, he has captured our affection and gratitude by his devotion to our common cause in the Propertian tradition. Let us thus applaud Paul Properzio.
Lauri Dabbieri
Robert Lanar
Kenneth Silverman
Katrina Szabo
Adam Williams
Judith P Hallett, University of Maryland, College Park
* Ad maiorem dei gloriam, motto of Loyola University in Chicago
** Propertius 1.1. Cynthia primum suis miserum me cepit cepit ocellis