In memory of David M. Hay

From David Runia and Gregory Sterling to the other members of the SBL Philo of Alexandria Group I have received these words in honor of David M. Hay:

It is with the deepest regret that we announce the sudden passing of David Hay, the chairperson of the Studia Philonica Annual editorial board and the general editor of the Studia Philonica Monograph Series. David died unexpectedly in his home on Friday morning, August 25th. A blood clot appears to have entered his lungs. There will be a burial service for him on Tuesday, August 29th, in McDonough, Georgia, and a memorial service that afternoon in Atlanta. A later memorial service will be held at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where David taught for thirty years.

We will miss David for both professional and personal reasons. David was a fine scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Philo. He was a founding member of the Philo Institute, a contributor to the Studia Philonica, the chairperson of the SNTS seminar on Philo, and a key figure in the launching and success of the Studia Philionica Annual and the monograph series. He was, however, more than a productive scholar; he was a friend. Those of us who were privileged to work with him knew him as a generous and sensitive human being. The last time that the SBL met in Atlanta, many of the members of the Philo of Alexandria Group went to David and Mary's home for dinner. It was a memorable evening.

The last scholarly contribution that David made was to proofread the 2006 Studia Philonica Annual, a task that he had executed faithfully for many years. He was not able to complete his commentary on The Contemplative Life. The treatise was near to his heart. We should remember the final words: "This will suffice for the Therapeutae who welcomed the contemplation of nature and what it contains and who lived their lives in the soul alone, citizens of both heaven and earth. They were sincerely commended to the Father and Maker of the cosmos by virtue who introduced them to God's friendship and added the most appropriate gift of true goodness, a gift better than all good fortune, a gift that reaches to the very summit of full happiness." We are confident that virtue has commended David as well.

We will miss him immensely.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Mary, the children, and the grandchildren.

David T. Runia
Gregory E. Sterling