A very belated memory from the late 60s.  I was dating Tony Pfannkuche, also a doctoral candidate in comp lit, and on several occasions we visited the Seatons and their spirited 2-yr-old Ann. So many specifics are lost to me now, but I recall Jim as a gentle, almost self effacing man genuinely loved by Sandra who never failed to say something admiring about him as a matter of course in our conversations.  Just tonight watching TV, a rolling credit brought their names fully to my memory & I googled them. 
How sad to learn of Jim's passing at such a comparatively young age.  But wonderful to learn of four children and 50 years, professional success, publications, and loving children who write letters a year after his passing.  Thank you for living beautiful lives that I am lucky enough to have come upon during covid 19 and the George Foley murder and protests.


Dear Dad,

It's been a year, and it's as if we were just talking yesterday--about Aeschylus, and how unbelievably painful, beautiful, shocking, and grand the Oresteia is.  After so many years of feeling like it was "your" thing, I'm finally--after all this time--slowly but surely making my way through Virgil's Eclogues. I have your old Greek and Latin textbooks in my office, where I go and try to share, however I can, what you gave me to such an amazing extent--this simple, yet engaged joy--plain and simple. So many books wear the traces of our conversations--the Iliad of course will always be special, since I read it with you (Fitzgerald, of course!)--when I was six, and then came to your classes at Michigan State and made the students laugh, sitting in back of you, behind the podium. Dad, I miss you--a lot. We all do. But we are so much richer, so lucky, to have had you in our lives and you will always, always be with us, in everything we do, think, and see, because you were always so thoughtful, so present, and so incredibly interested in things. Nobody was boring to you; you always listened, as my old friend Cynthia said--you wanted to know, immediately, upon meeting her, what she thought about Russian Literature! We may have disagreed about some very important things, but what we agreed on was far more important, far richer in consequences--the fundamental respect and integrity of the human spirit; and, above all, the love, forgiveness, trust, and compassion with which you lived your life, and that I try (and fail, pretty much every day)--to follow. 

I just learned of Dr. Seaton's passing what a great scholar and mentor.  To the family I send you blessings

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Seaton.  It is evident upon review of his obituary that he had an enormous and powerful impact on his family, his friends and his students.  Peace and Comfort to all family.  And Blessings on his gracious soul. 

With deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences,

I am so sorry for your loss. Your husband was a great educator and a tremendous scholar. He will be missed.

May God bless his family and heal their wounded hearts. My wife and I send our deepest and most sincere condolences. 

Jason and Lara Kalish

I am equally shocked and saddened to have just learned of my dear colleague's recent death. I had no idea he was ill. We last corresponded about 18 months ago, when I sent him the galley proofs of an article I had just written and a long note of praise for his new book, which should be required reading for scholars, teachers and students who share a love of literature and critical thinking. It is one of the finest monographs I have ever read. This evalutation might come as a surprise to some because Jim's and my perspectives only rarely converged--but my respect for him has always been deep and abiding. Not only was he a brilliant thinker, he made me think harder about what I was arguing. I consulted with him frequently when I was still an active scholar. That man did his homework: my shorthand and perhaps too cryptic description of how thoroughly he researched and thought through every single thing he ever wrote--every public position he took. He was an honorable human being. If my heart is broken, I cannot imagine how the hearts of his family are. I am deeply sorry, Sandra. He was such a good man, friend and colleague. I miss him terribly already.

Dear Sandra, You introduced me to the great powerhouse of energy your husband of  half a century James Everett Seaton,

 sometime ago. I was struck by his tremendous enthusiasm over your work on "Sally". He absolutely championed you. My deepest sympathy to you and the family. Mizan Kirby-Nunes

Sandra, I send my condolences to you and your family on the passing of your husband. I was so sorry to read about his passing, but learned he had a rich life and long career and life with you. I meant to be in touch, but lost a family member and haven't kept up so much.  May your husband rest in peace and may his memory soon be a blessing.

Dear Sandra, deepest condolences to you and your family. So sorry for your loss.

Dear Sandra,
A long time ago (1971-73) we were your neighbours at the faculty apartments at MSU in Cherry lane. Now we have heard the sad news that James has passed away and we must send you our warmest condolences. We remember James and you as friendly, witty and warmhearted persons. We are not surprised that both of you have had succesful careers.
We also remember Annie very well. She was a funny and clever little girl.
Now back to James. May he rest in peace and leave you and the children with many fond memories.
Kindest regards,
Malou and Jonas Norrman

Annie, your dad was special in so many ways. In my memory, I think of him smiling or laughing and always being conversational. We were privileged to grow up the kids of the Humanities faculty with parents like your dad who were so engaged, intelligent, and giving. Your parents made a real impression on me as a child - they were always respectful and interested, they never talked down to us, and I appreciated that then, and now. As I grew older, I saw them less often but always enjoyed our conversations about travel, literature and drama. I know you will always hold those memories dear, too. I cannot imagine how hard this is on your mother, who was his lifetime soulmate. The two of them were a team. She was so kind to us when my mother passed away 15 years ago -- I remember her recording the memorial so that I could listen to it later and appreciate the words spoken. I hope now that you, your mother, and your siblings can find comfort in the memories that you and those who knew your father recall. Though he is gone too soon, he inspired so much love in each of you.  May he rest in peace.

Dear Soror Sandra Seaton:

I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your husband.

Soror Rhonda L. Smith

Sandra, I am so very sorry for your loss. I enjoyed my visits with him every couple of months, and will truly miss his infectious smile.  Please know that I am praying for you and your entire family. Love, Andrea Simons

Please accept our condolences.  Jim was a wonderful man!  He was compassionate, generous, and cared about people.  He was a wonderful teacher and excellent scholar as well.
                                                                Bill and Linda Schoenl

On behalf of the Kelly family, we are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. James E. Seaton Sr. Our prayers and our deepest condolences go out to you Sandra, Annie, and the Seaton family.  He was an admirer of the Kelly/Johnson family and legacy.  He left a deep impression with all of us during our family's quest to find answers to our family history.  His brilliant smile, kindness, intelligence and his thoughtful guidance will never be forgotten.   

Thank you, Dr. James Everett Seaton Sr., RIP

Sandra, I extend my deepest sympathy to you and your family. I will continue to pray for God's to bless your family.

Love,
Wanda Ward-Dunn

Dear Sandra, I am stunned, I was just browsing East Lansing, and Lansing Journal web-site came up.  I stared with disbelief.  I had no   idea Jim was ill.  I cannot convey my sadness and helplessness in wanting to comfort you and your lovely family.  You  have my deepest sympathy.  Bob and I will be in touch soon. 
Love 

Mary Lee Brady-Atkins and Bob Atkins

My wife Dixie & I have known Jim & Sandra Seaton since their arrival at MSU in 1972. Over the years, they became dear friends, most especially since Dixie & I retired in 1997. We are truly saddened by Jim's untimely death.  Jim was a fine man, a great scholar, and a good friend.  Our hearts go out to Sandra & the family during this difficult time.

I remember James as an intelligent, gentle, kind and soft spoken man. Although, I have not seen him in years, surely he will be missed.  May he rest in peace. My condolences to Sandra, Ann, Jimmy, Amanda and Jeremy. From: The LaFleurs

My most distinct memory of Ann's dad (which is how I thought of him) was him taking my 20-year old self aside in their East Lansing living room and asking in a hushed tone,  what I thought about Russian literature.  For some reason, I was so shocked I could barely answer.  I wasn't used to anyone's parents asking me what I thought about anything, much less literature!  I wish I could have continued talking to him, but I know I will keep talking about literature and everything else with Ann, in our infinite conversation that we started as teenagers and that her dad will be there with us, in a way.

My sincere condolences and love to the entire Seaton family and especially to Ann's mom Sandra for this tragic loss.

I met James Seaton when he visited some of us  at the Law College around the time the law school  arrived in East Lansing. A few years later, I sent him a draft of an article for a law review. He kindly agreed to read the piece and lunch with me. I met him at the Owen cafeteria to receive his guidance. It became evident to me that he did not approve of my thesis.  The draft involved my suggesting that a change in the popular usage of a word--marriage--undermined efforts to maintain the traditional meaning as official, or authoritative.  Those of you who know the scholar will recognize he would not endorse the idea of the malleability of language, especially a critical term constituting family, through mass effrontery. I kept his chastisement in mind but I did publish the article. To my good fortune, he didn't forget me. He began to invite me to participate in Law & Literature panels at the SSML. I am grateful for the friendship he bestowed on me.  I learned from him and from Sandra. I met their children.  He was such a good man.  It was a grace to have had the honor to be his friend and his family's.  I wish the years of knowing him did not have to end.  In fact, I would very much like to ask him whether I got the account of our meeting, and his views, quite right.  I am going to count on him for his usual freely awarded gift of charity for the imperfect yet sincere try at getting something right.

Mae Kuykendall

I want to express my sincere condolences to Dr. Seaton's family.  I'll be thinking especially of my friends Sandra and Annie in the coming days as there can be no real preparation for a profound loss like this.  I'm wishing  all those who grieve for Dr. Seaton comfort in your time of sorrow and peace in future days.

On behalf of the MSU College of Law, our sincere condolences to Dr. Seaton's family.  Many here warmly remember his wife, Sandra's, time with us as a Writer-in-Residence.  All accounts suggest that Dr. Seaton was a gifted teacher and scholar, and a devoted husband and father.  I'm sure he will be greatly missed.

 Jim was an exemplary academician. He epitomized what is meant by the Humanities. He was  versed in literature, art, the classics and philosophy. He was a scholar and prolific as an author of books and articles. His talents and skills were not limited to his written works. He was an excellent teacher.
His students were imbued with his enthusiasm reflected by his insightful presentations. Always affable he would  greet you with his good natured smile.

 I met Jim for the first time when we became friends  and colleagues in the Department of the Humanities. Later he transitioned to English and I to History. Yet I was able to see Jim at a variety of events. Jim continued his success and was respected by his peers.  I am very saddened by his departure and he will be missed, I offer my condolences to Sandra and  his family.

What a kind, modest, brilliant person James was! A profound humanism simply radiated out of him. He was also a brilliant scholar, critic and thinker whose ability to articulate the complex and enduring standards of literary works and their criticism will stand long after the too-prevalent current modish blather fades into oblivion. Of all the people I've met, he's at the top of the list of those I wish I'd known better.

Jim was a remarkable person, brilliant and caring. He had a lasting impact on those of us lucky enough to be his high school friends. We send warmest wishes and our deepest sympathy  to his family.

"Gladly would he learn and gladly teach." Jim was a careful listener, lively and learned; ever courteous in discussion. His ideas outside the usual academic boxes were always presented with the smile of a friend.  It was a privilege to be his colleague.

Jim was my good friend and colleague in both the Humanities and English Departments. He was invariably a person of youthful energy,open friendship, and full engagement with the literary and artistic materials he taught in both departments. His passing leaves a permanent gap in my list of those who truly made a difference.

We are heartbroken about Jim's passing. He and Sandra are among the co-op's most devoted supporters, and we loved his calm, friendly presence in the store. We wish all the best to his family and keep them in our hearts and prayers.

In high school Jim opened my ears to new types of music, my eyes to new types of poetry, and my horizons to all kinds of new ideas.  I owe him a lot.  My life was much richer for having spent so much time with him.  Though our political ideals came to differ greatly as the years passed, that never seemed to damage the friendship.  The warmth, sincere interest, and robust humor were always there to make time spent with Jim most enjoyable.

Jim was a scholar, gentleman, and good friend and all-around decent human being. He also remembered his Sioux City roots.  I'm so sorry to hear the news.

He was a gentleman and a gentle man, both. Condolences to Sandra and family.

I knew my brother-in-law for over fifty years as a loving family member and friend.  He was a righteous person.  We will miss him.

My brother James taught me a great deal about literature, art, and philosophy, but, more profoundly, he taught me about love.  He was a fine man and a significant thinker.

We are deeply saddened by James' passing.  We send our loving condolences to Sandra,  Ann, James Jr., Amanda, and Jeremy, and to all other members of his family.  James was a shining light who enriched the lives of all who knew him.

John and Marcia Eulenberg

Sandy and family,
I am so sorry to hear about Professor Seaton.  Definitely one of the best profs I had as an undergrad and one of the truest decent persons I've known.

Prof. Seaton was a principled and very kind man. I respected him in the English department and have always felt confident advising students to take his History of Western Literary Criticism. He will be greatly missed.

My stepbrother James was stupendously brilliant man, with a passionate drive for knowledge and intellectual discourse.  He was a steadfast husband and doting father, and ever a friendly step-brother.  It was such a pleasure to listen to him engage in his energetic conversations.  Full of life.  Full of love.

I am so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. I had the pleasure of getting to know him professionally when I worked at ISI. He was an incisive thinker and wonderful writer, and he made real contributions to criticism and the world of ideas. 

Recquiescat in pace.

James was a man of great integrity and love.  He was always kind and caring.  He will be deeply missing by his whole family.  As brilliant as he always was, he listened to others with concentrated interest and respect, even in childhood. As his younger sister, I will always miss him!

OBITUARY

Dr. James Everett Seaton, Sr.

September 5, 1944 – March 29, 2017

Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes

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