Remembering Dan Langton
Creative Writing and literature and language professor Dan Langton has passed away at the age of 97. Dan taught at SFSU since 1968 and retired 50 years later in 2018. He was known for his closeness to students and his use of the typewriter to respond by letter to students' writing, the same typewriter he used to compose thousands of poems and author many books. Serving in the military in World War 2, he committed himself to pacifism. His poems are often highly personal, and some idisplay his pacifist views. Known as a member of the original Beat poets , he was a prominent San Francisco presence and a kind and welcoming greeter of our new students. The meeting for new grad students always had a moment in which he explained how they were chosen for being the best applicants.
Plans are being made for a memorial in the new year. We will keep you informed. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law and was preceded in death by his beloved wife Evie.