In Memoriam Dr. Raymond Waters

Dr. Raymond M. Waters taught in the Department of Comparative Literature from the early nineties until his premature death on July 20th, 2019, at the age of 57.

 

Ray graduated with a BA from UCLA, taught English in Japan for two years, and wrote his M.A. thesis on film adaptation of novels as exemplified by the classic western Shane. Ray earned a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Iowa. His dissertation was on Western pop culture depictions of Japan. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of film history and pop culture, inspiring many thousands of students who took his legendary Comic Spirit class over the decades.

 

A memorial service celebrating Ray’s life was held in October 2019 in the Earl Burns Miller Japanese garden at CSULB. It was heavily attended by colleagues, family, students, and friends. Ray Waters will be sorely missed and remembered dearly.