In Memory of Dr. Perry Gethner
Department mourns passing of former head and Emeritus professor
Dr. Perry Gethner (1947-2023)
We invite you to share your memories of Perry and send condolences to his loved ones.
Oklahoma State University’s Department of Language and Literatures lost a beloved member of its faculty this week with the passing of recently retired French professor and former department head Dr. Perry Gethner on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
A graduate of Carlton College and Yale University, Gethner came to OSU as an assistant professor in 1984 after serving in academic positions in Strasbourg, France; at Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Connecticut; and at the University of Chicago.
Gethner rose through the ranks at OSU, serving as the department of head of Languages and Literatures from 1999 to 2015 and retiring this year as Regents Professor of Foreign Language after 39 years at OSU.
"Dr. Gethner was an outstanding scholar and teacher,” said OSU Vice Provost Chris Francisco. “His honors seminars always received rave reviews, and his tireless efforts to bring a Phi Beta Kappa chapter to OSU were a great service to the university and generations of students to come. He had a remarkable career, certainly worthy of the Regents Professor title he earned."
In 2009, Gethner hired Spanish professor Dr. Erik Ekman, who now serves as head of the Department of Languages and Literatures. Ekman witnessed Gethner’s impact over the years on students, faculty and alumni alike.
“It’s difficult to sum up Perry’s work in the Department of Languages and Literatures at OSU because he’s done so much over so many years,” Ekman said. “He was an excellent teacher, having taught all levels of French. His students were impressed by both his learning and the energy he brought to the classroom. He was a helpful mentor, a very dependable colleague and always a source of good advice and information.”
In addition to teaching, Gethner was a prolific scholar and historian of early modern French literature. Ekman explained that after the French Revolution in the late 18th century, most French female playwrights were “systematically written out of the French literary canon.”
“Perry and his co-editors worked to edit, translate, annotate and publish these women’s texts to make them available to contemporary readers and thus recover these important lost literary voices,” Ekman said. “The translations they produced ended up in literature courses through the English-speaking world, and the French editions are handed round to graduate students soon after they become available for dissertations in places like Harvard, Penn and the Sorbonne.”
Gethner published more than 30 editions and translations during his career and had over 70 scholarly articles to his name while a professor at OSU. His research earned him an international reputation, with top French scholars seeking out his expertise on French texts.
"Collaborating with and being considered a peer by French scholars was no small feat,” Ekman said. “He will be greatly missed — both as a colleague and a friend.”
Give in Honor of Dr. Gethner
Many of our alumni and friends have asked about giving back in Dr. Gethner’s honor. We gratefully accept memorial gifts to the Foreign Languages Department Fund in honor of Dr. Gethner. Should enough funds be secured, a permanent scholarship fund will be created in Dr. Gethner’s honor, to allow current and future OSU students to benefit and be inspired by his love of foreign languages. Please note your gift is in memory of Perry Gethner.
DONATE IN MEMORY OF DR. PERRY GETHNER
Condolences
Dr. Jolene Vos-Camy, Calvin University (Michigan)
I first met Perry about 25 years ago when I was just starting my career and beginning to present my research at 17th century conferences. Perry was one of the kindest and most encouraging colleagues I have ever known. He sought out the young scholars throughout his career and made sure they felt welcomed and valued in what could sometimes be an intimidating world. I always looked forward to seeing Perry at the next conference, and always hoped to hear him once again break into song to illustrate some aria in a long-forgotten play that he was resurrecting for our delight. Perry will be sorely missed.
Dr. Volker Schröder, Princeton University
Perry Gethner was a pioneering scholar who made lasting contributions to the study of 17th- and 18th-century French literature. More than 30 years ago, as a graduate student and editorial assistant in Germany, I had the honor of helping finalize volume 1 of his anthology "Femmes dramaturges." Volume 2, as well as English translations, followed a few years later. Through these publications and many related articles, Perry established the study of early modern female playwrights as an important and legitimate endeavor and inspired numerous colleagues in several countries.
After my move to the U.S. as a professor, I had many occasions to meet Perry at conferences; as treasurers of two professional associations, we also regularly exchanged our mutual dues and news. He would usually inform me that he had accepted, yet again, to serve as department chair. In recent years, he seemed to have various medical issues and began to consider retirement. I was glad to see his transfer to emeritus status this summer, and am all the more shocked and saddened by his sudden passing. Perry Gethner will be sorely missed but not forgotten.
Benedetta Bartolini, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne
Unfortunately I met Perry Gethner only a few months ago, but I still consider myself very lucky to have had this chance. He immediately showed me his kindness and his willingness to help me with my research. That’s rare for such an important professor and that’s something I’ll never forget.
Dr. John te Velde, Oklahoma State University
Perry stood out in multiple ways amongst the faculty in the Dept. of (Foreign) Languages and Literatures. His gift for languages, his concern for fellow faculty, his love of teaching and scholarship... the list goes on and on. He treated me to dinner when I was tenured, and he treated me and my wife to dinner when I retired. His support as department head made my job immeasurably more rewarding and enjoyable. I will never forget him for being such a fine human being, combining immense talent with humility.
Lucy Roberts, OSU student
Dr. Gethner was one of the few people I've met with whom I shared a passion for learning
the French language, and the impact that he had on my understanding of it is profound.
Today I find myself mourning the loss of an extraordinary professor, mentor, and academic.
My knowledge of French literature, theater, politics, writing, and much more is indebted
to Dr. Gethner's generous sharing of expertise with students. The first French professor
of my college career invested much in me and asked for nothing in return, only that
I correct my grammatical mistakes. Discerning with his compliments, Dr. Gethner made
my day when making positive remarks about a paper or an assignment. Though I had so
much to learn from him, I always felt we shared a deep appreciation for the same subject.
During a study abroad in Cannes, France, in 2022, I shared photos of the places I
went with Dr. Gethner, especially if we had discussed them in class. He highly encouraged
me to pursue a semester abroad, and I thank him endlessly for doing so. I hope my
emails brought him joy, and I wish he could read this note.
In conclusion, thank you does not suffice. Dr. Gethner deserved more for dedicating
so much of his time and energy to his craft and his students. May he rest in peace.
Merci PG, et au revoir.
Dr. Abby Zanger
I don’t have words to register my sadness at our world losing Perry. I knew his work from early in my career when I tried to write about performance in Molière at a time when this was not a popular topic. His work was important to me because he did get that theatre had so many dimensions. Perry always gave me his books and was an inspiration. A kind and generous colleague who was the best academia has to offer. I never knew he was Jewish (how did I miss that?) until he shared with me in Lyon that he read Torah on the high holidays in Oklahoma. As always he understated what he did. Perry may have been a lamed-vavnik, one of the 36 righteous people who inhabit the earth to model ethical behavior in Jewish lore. He would be so amused that I am saying that. May his memory be a blessing always.
Benita and Ed Johnson
Ed and I got to know Perry through the Jewish Congregation in Ponca City where they, on occasion, shared the leading of services. He and Ed shared many common interests. He did visit us in Angel Fire, New Mexico, on his way to see opera in Tulsa. Ed even joined him once. The last time we shared emails was during the High Holidays in September. He will be missed by many as he was a kind and great man.
Frederick Lawrence, The Phi Beta Kappa Society secretary and CEO
The national office of The Phi Beta Kappa Society and the entire Phi Beta Kappa family express our deep condolences on the passing of Dr. Perry Gethner. Perry’s efforts to bring a Phi Beta Kappa chapter to OSU were essential. His wisdom, energy, commitment, kindness and decency will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to spend time with him.
As the secretary and CEO of Phi Beta Kappa, I was honored to visit OSU several years ago. I will always remember an afternoon walk around campus with Perry on my visit to Stillwater. That day, I learned a great deal about OSU, French literature and the vital role that a Phi Beta Kappa chapter can play at a land-grant university. Above all, I was impressed by the quiet depth of Perry Gethner’s character. He will be sorely missed.
May Perry Gethner’s memory be a blessing.
Dr. Alicia Montoya, Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands)
My heartfelt condolences to Perry's family and colleagues. I first met Perry 25 years ago, when as a beginning graduate student, he encouraged me in my work on French women dramatists. In a period when there was hesitation, even outright hostility toward the topic — at least outside the U.S. — his support was crucial to me, as it was to many other colleagues of my generation. To my mind, Perry embodied everything that was good about academia: the generosity, the spirit of sharing, the excitement of scholarly pursuit and discovery.
He almost single-handedly opened up the now flourishing field of scholarship on early-modern women dramatists, as was acknowledged this last week during a major three-day conference-theatre festival on the topic in Lyon, France. Perry was to deliver the opening key-note, which had been — uncannily — scheduled at the very moment of his passing. He remained with us in spirit throughout the conference, during which speakers delivered tribute upon tribute to him. These past days were for all of us conference participants an emotionally charged, symbolic passing of the torch, and what a fitting tribute to a life devoted to scholarship. Perry was above all a supremely kind man. I feel immense gratitude for having known him.
Diana Compton
I was sorry to hear of Dr. Gethner’s passing. He was a true renaissance man who excelled at everything and he will be sorely missed. I especially enjoyed his piano lectures that he gave to the community and I admired him very much. An exemplary life.
Dr. Jean Van Delinder, OSU Graduate College interim dean
Perry worked tirelessly for graduate education by serving on committees. He was a long-time Secretary of Subject Matter Group II - Humanities. He will be missed!
Dr. Robert Miller, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Regents Professor Emeritus
He was a friend, an artist, a mentor, and inspiration to his students and to me. He worked so very hard to bring Phi Beta Kappa to OSU. No one was had more of my respect in the faculty that Perry. He served both the University and his synagogue faithfully and tirelessly. I will miss him so. May he rest eternally in the light.
Elise Argo, OSU student
Perry Gethner was an incredibly witty and knowledgeable man with a kind heart. His determination for excellence pushed me to be a more diligent student and for that I thank him. I am very honored to have taken his class before he retired and I only wish I could have learned more from him. After all his years of tireless work I hope he is finally resting peacefully. Vous allez nous manquer.
Amy Lawson, OSU alumnus
Dr. Gethner helped me during my college career with Latin. I'll never forget how excited he was talking about Wheelock and teaching everyone language. He challenged me in ways other professors could not and helped shape me be who I am. I used Spanish every day in my career and am proud of the ones who helped guide me. Now I pass this on to my daughter. Condolences to his family and loved ones. His legacy shall continue!
Stillwater Community French Conversation Group
Perry was an occasional participant in the monthly French conversation group in the Stillwater community. He was a sweet, kind, gentle man who was unfailingly patient and encouraging to those of us with imperfect language skills. He will be greatly missed.