Date:    Mon, 22 Jun 1998 11:48:44 +0000
<br>From:    Victoria Neufeldt <vneufeldt[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]M-W.COM>
<br>Subject: Re: Tom Creswell (was: plural's - a new development?)
<br>
<br>All this stuff about apostrophe use reminds me of a paper Tom
<br>Creswell gave to a meeting of the Dictionary Society of North America
<br>years ago -- early 80s, I think.  He gave some hilarious examples  of
<br>creative apostrophizing from his collection.  I think he also gave
<br>another paper on the same subject more recently, either for DSNA or
<br>ADS, but it is the first one at DSNA that I especially remember, perhaps
<br>because it was my first exposure to his wit and mental energy.  His
<br>papers were always interesting and thought-provoking, and usually
<br>entertaining as well.  He was an excellent speaker, with his booming voice
<br>and easy manner.  And he was an indefatigable researcher with an
<br>inquiring mind and a sharp eye and I always looked forward to his
<br>presentations.  In recent years his deafness interfered with his
<br>ability to enjoy social gatherings, including DSNA and ADS meetings,
<br>which was a pity, for he was a sociable person.
<br>
<br>He was also a kind and good friend.  I will miss him a lot.  For
<br>those who don't know, he died last Thursday, June 18th, of congestive
<br>heart failure.
<br>
<br>I will be including an obituary for Tom in the DSNA spring Newsletter
<br>(which should have come out in May, but now I'm glad I'm late with it).
<br>Virginia McDavid has graciously agreed to write the obituary, but I
<br>would also like to hear from anyone on the list who knew him and
<br>could offer reminiscences.
<br>
<br>Virginia told me today that he died at home (he had come home from
<br>the hospital two weeks before).  He would have turned 78 on July
<br>22nd.  He had had serious heart trouble for more than 25 years and
<br>had survived two serious heart attacks.
<br>
<br>Victoria Neufeldt
<br>