Date of death: 12/15/2006

Saint Meinrad Class: O 1968

A retired University of Saint Francis English professor, Mr. Pictor, 65, died from cancer after a 11-month battle. We was remembered as a good father and a passionate teacher.Mr. Pictor moved to Florida after retiring from Saint Francis in August 2005, marking the end of a 33-year career.His son, Jeff Pictor, 38, of Fort Wayne, said his father was committed and passionate” about teaching students the intricate wonders of the English language. “He cared about them learning,” he said. James Pictor was most fond of British writers, especially Shakespeare, and was known to occasionally include quotes from a favorite author during conversation, his son said.Growing up with an English professor for a father ensured quick corrections when the language was abused. “He always corrected you when you used improper English,” Jeff Pictor said. When he was about 7, Pictor remembers playing backyard baseball with his father. Their games would last for hours. James Pictor would hit the ball, and his son would play outfielder. “He taught me how to catch fly balls,” Jeff Pictor said.But the pair’s love for sports didn’t stop at baseball. Jeff Pictor said he and his dad would play tennis, attend soccer games at Saint Francis and play driveway basketball, even if they had to shovel snow off the “court” before play could begin.Steve Sullivan, 66, of Fort Wayne was a longtime friend of James Pictor. The two met while students at Our Lady of the Lakes Seminary on Lake Wawasee. Sullivan said he was exactly 10 months older than Pictor, a fact Pictor would use when teasing. Pictor had a sense of humor that remained, even when he struggled with the symptoms of his cancer, Sullivan said.Pictor was chairman of the English department for most of the time he was with the Saint Francis, Sullivan said. He also loved to “dabble in poetry” and was an accomplished musician, able to play the piano and organ. Sullivan said his friend was selfless and admired by students.James Pictor received his Ph.D from Purdue University in 1972. He was named the 2005 Indiana Scholar/Teacher of the Year. After he retired, he moved to Florida and married his wife, Margo, who survives him.He is also survived by two daughters, Sharon Kowal and Susan Bailey, both of Cincinnati; a stepson, Gregory Barath of Woodbridge, Va.; a sister, Judy Wright of Naples, Fla.; and six grandchildren.Information obtained from The Journal Gazette-Fort Wayne.”