LINGUIST List 20.4130
Thu Dec 03 2009
All: Obituary: Ben Elson
Editor for this issue: Catherine Adams
<catherinlinguistlist.org>
1. Michael
Cahill,
Obituary: Ben Elson
Message 1: Obituary: Ben Elson
Date: 02-Dec-2009
From: Michael Cahill <mike_cahillsil.org>
Subject: Obituary: Ben Elson
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Dr. Benjamin Elson (Ben Elson to most) of SIL International passed awayearly Friday morning, Nov. 27, after spending Thanksgiving day with hisfamily. His scholarly work was mostly devoted to Sierra Popoluca, for whichhe produced a number of papers and in 2000, a Popoluca-Spanish dictionary.Ben Elson was perhaps best known in the linguistics world for ''AnIntroduction to Morphology and Syntax'', co-authored with Velma Picket,published in both English and Spanish, and widely used in introductorysyntax courses. He also wrote a ''Linguistic Creed'' in 1987 that summed upSIL's philosophy of working with languages(http://www.sil.org/sil/linguistic_creed.htm). A complete bibliography ofhis published works is found at(http://www.ethnologue.com/show_author.asp?auth=2314).
Ben was born on December 8, 1921 in Burbank, CA. His early years were spentmostly in California, although his family also lived in Colorado andArizona for a short time. He attended Biola University and was firstexposed to SIL's work when Cameron Townsend and Eugene Nida spoke there,and Adelle, who Ben was then engaged to, suggested they talk to Townsend.In 1942 Ben attended SIL at the University of Oklahoma and joined SIL atthe age of 20! After the session, Ben went to Mexico and when Adellearrived in January, they were married. They took their assignment with thePopoluca people and lived there from 1943-1953. During their time with thePopolucas, the published reading primers, some story books, and some Scripture.
Besides working with the Popolucas, each summer from 1946 to 1958, Ben andAdelle were on SIL staff in Norman, OK. Ben got his BA degree from SeattlePacific College during their furlough in 1949-1950 at Seattle PacificCollege. In 1952 he went to the Linguistic Institute at Indiana University.He then attended Cornell University and received his PhD in 1956, with adissertation titled ''Sierra Popoluca Morphology.'' The Elsons wereinvolved in starting the SIL summer program at the University ofWashington, where Ben was director until 1968.
He was elected Director of SIL's Mexico Branch in 1957, and continued inthat position until January 1965. In 1966 he was appointed ExecutiveDirector of SIL and held the post until 1975. In 1976, he taught at SIL inCharlotte, NC and then again directed the course in Norman, OK from 1977until the mid 1980s. They also returned to the Mexico branch during thistime. In 1980 he again was elected as Mexico director for two years. Duringthis time the Elsons rejoined the Sierra Popoluca program, and Ben producedthe Popoluca-Spanish dictionary, published in 2000. In 1989 they becameretired volunteers and fully retired in 1998.
Ben was a knowledgeable and respected leader who knew the history of SILwell. He was very adept at thinking through the principles and policies ofthe organization and finding good solutions for complex issues of the times.
Ben’s living legacy includes Adelle, his wife of 67 years; sons Lee, Steve(wife Jennifer), and Tom (wife Janie); daughter Sally Elson Harvey(husband, Mike); and brother Bill Elson. There are fourteen grandchildrenand sixteen great-grandchildren.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Dr. Benjamin Elson was heldTuesday, December 1st at the Townsend Center at JAARS. Davis FuneralService is serving the family of Dr. Elson. An on-line guest register bookis available at www.davisfuneralservice.com (click on ''Obituaries'').
Also, SIL's Mexico Branch center near Tucson will be having a time ofremembrance for Ben on Friday, Dec. 11th. If you will not be able toattend, you may e-mail your remembrances to execsec_mexicosil.org to beshared with the group.
Linguistic Field(s):
Not Applicable
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