The Monmouth University community mourns the loss of a longtime professor who had taught at the school for more than half a century.
Prescott Evarts, a professor at Monmouth since 1966, died on Aug. 28 at the age of 79.
At the time of his death, he and his wife Janine resided in West Long Branch, where the university is also located. He was born in New York City and moved to Monmouth County the same year he joined the school, according to his obituary.
Evarts, who was a member of the college’s English Department, taught courses in literature, poetry and the genres of comedy and tragedy during his 51 years at Monmouth. According to his faculty profile, his major interests included Greek Literature, contemporary English and American Literature, and poetry.
Evarts earned a bachelor’s degree at Harvard University and attended Columbia University for graduate study, where he earned a master’s degree and a Doctor of Philosophy.
“We are deeply saddened by Dr. Evarts’ death and miss him very much,” said Professor Susan Goulding, the chair of the English Department.
Outside of academia, Evarts was an active runner and, according to his obituary, had successfully completed 17 marathons. In an online statement, the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC) described Evarts as a “Shore AC [Athletic Club]/JSRC/Shore-area running veteran” and “a familiar face at many Shore road and cross country races”. At Harvard, he was also a guard on the Crimson football team and participated in boxing, winning a championship as a freshman.
“I know a lot of runners who miss him tremendously already,” said JSRC Race Director Penny Hinck. “He was a brilliant man who really enjoyed running and interacting with other runners.”
The sentiments of the JSRC are shared by Monmouth University faculty and students.
“The Department of English and the Monmouth University community mourn the death of our dear colleague and friend, Dr. Prescott Evarts,” the English Department said in a statement. “His deep and abiding love for literature, his commitment to our students, and his generosity of spirit were constants for us all. Dr. Evarts was not simply a part of Monmouth; he was Monmouth, a devoted, active and integral member of its history and growth for the last 51 years.”
“We cannot imagine our campus without him, but we take comfort in the fact that he did what he loved to do for his entire life,” the statement reads. “Poet, professor, colleague, friend: he will be sorely missed. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, especially his wife, Janine.”
According to his obituary, Evarts’ family requests that donations be made in his name to the Upper Valley Land Trust, a non-profit land conservation organization in Hanover, NH.
