RIP: Richard C. West (1944-2020)

I was quite sad to hear this news as well. I had corresponded with Dr. West some over the years, but never met in person. He's had involvement in Tolkien scholarship since the mid 1960s and was scheduled to be scholar guest of honor for an event next year as well. A long and distinguished career for a great man - he will be missed.

Dr. Dimitra Fimi wrote up a nice thread on Twitter, viewable here.

John D. Rateliff shared a short post on his website.

The Marquette Tolkien collection facebook page posted a short note as well.

Here are the issues of Orcrist under his editorialship, and a copy of his Tolkien Criticism book he kindly signed for me many years ago.

Richard was one of the kindest, humblest, and most decent people I've ever met. His scholarship was impeccable, and important, but he never made any boasts about or promotion of it — which is why it is, I think, vastly under-appreciated. He was also a devout Catholic — not coincidentally. This is a real blow.

Thanks Aelfwine for your thoughts.

Olwe has also mentioned that Mike Glyer posted his thoughts over on File770.

(If you don't subscribe to Olwe's Roving Ranger email newsletter, you should.)

Thanks for mentioning the newsletter - this memory by Kalimac came in shortly after I had sent out the lastest issue.

The family has published his obituary.

https://www.cressfuneralservice.com/obituary/Richard-West