The Wesleyan community lost a valuable professor, friend and role model with the death of Professor of French Languages and Literature Morton W. Briggs. Briggs died Sept. 25 at Middlesex Health Care Center at age 90.
“I never once saw him angry,” said Professor of Romance Languages and Literature Norman Shapiro. “He was level-headed, easy-going and gentlemanly, and always gave himself entirely to everything he did.”
Shapiro, who was hired by Briggs in 1960, remembers the late professor as a solid, substantial man and a fine colleague. For him Briggs personified the “Old Wesleyan,” a more traditional institution than the one that exists today.
A faculty member for over forty years, Briggs graduated from Cornell University, studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, and went on to obtain his master’s and doctoral degrees from Harvard University.
Aside from teaching French, Briggs was a member of the Middlesex County United Way serving on the board of directors, campaign chairman, and president. He was also the chairman and sat on the board of directors of the Middlesex Chapter of the American Red Cross. A proud member of the Middletown community, Briggs also belonged to the Middletown Rotary Club and The Church of the Holy Trinity.
His statewide activities included chairmanship of the Foreign Language Advisory Committee for the State Department of Education from 1963–1972. He also worked with the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers as a member of the board of directors.
Additionally, Briggs served as chairman of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, director of the Honors College from 1966 to 1985, and chairman of the Educational Studies Program from 1973 to 1985. He served as acting director of the Graduate Liberal Studies Program, and was Wesleyan’s delegate to Phi Beta Kappa’s governing body, the Triennial Council, for many years. He was executive secretary of the University, secretary of the faculty, and secretary of the Academic Council.
According to Shapiro, Briggs remained active in his various activities even after his retirement. He maintained his position in Wesleyan’s Education Studies Program, and was twice the director of the University’s study abroad program in Paris.
Even in the last stages of his life, Briggs’ sense of duty and character never wavered. He continued to attend meetings in the Romance Languages and Literatures Department, although his colleagues hardly expected him to keep up with his regular duties.
The Wesleyan community continues to keep Briggs’ dedicated and virtuous spirit alive. Last spring he was honored by a former student with the creation of the Morton W. and Kathryn I. Briggs Endowed Wesleyan Scholarship, named in honor of Briggs and his wife of 60 years.
Morton is survived by his wife Kay; their three children, Christopher, Kirk, and Kate; five grandchildren; and one sister. According to the Wesleyan Connection newsletter, memorial contributions can be made to the American Red Cross hurricane relief funds.
“When I think of Morton, I will remember the silly, mischievous smile he always wore, along with his signature red bow-tie,” Shapiro said. “He was a role model to both his students and to all who worked with him, and he will be dearly missed.”
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