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Fordham University Press Mourns Loss of Editorial Director

5th March 2014

Dear Friends:

Photo by Bruce Gilbert

I write with the devastating news that Helen Tartar, the Press’s Editorial Director, has died in a car accident. Everyone at Fordham University Press and the Fordham community is deeply saddened by the news of Helen’s death.

Helen was one of the most passionate and dedicated editors in the academic publishing community. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with her for the past five years and to collaborate with her on transforming Fordham University Press into one of the leading scholarly presses in the United States. I was in awe of her tireless commitment to enhancing scholarship in the humanities and social sciences and her ability to attract a devout group of authors impressed with her adept editorial skills and intellectual conversations. Helen told me on several occasions that her books were her children. Despite her countless accomplishments, Helen remained quite modest.

As I wrapped myself up in an orange hand-knitted scarf given to me as a belated holiday gift from Helen, I thought fondly of her constant desire to thread things together; thoughts, ideas, words, and people. Helen would rarely be seen without her yarn and needles, always managing to satisfy her need for movement and creativity. I will cherish this quiet token of Helen’s talent and friendship.

Please keep Helen’s husband, Bud, her family, and her friends in your thoughts as we all mourn her death. Her life will live on through the connections she made and the books she crafted.

Fordham will be hosting a memorial service for Helen in the near future, and we will share further information about that once it becomes available.

Fred Nachbaur
Director
Fordham University Press