Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2002 14:52:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rich Lynch <rw_lynch at yahoo.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Dalvan Coger, 1921-2002
To: WSFA members <wsfalist at keithlynch.net>,
    memoryhole <memoryhole at yahoogroups.com>
Cc: Mike Glyer <mglyer at compuserve.com>
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

Dalvin M. Coger, a fan since the early 1940s, passed
away on Wednesday, October 2nd, from a post-surgery
antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection.

Dal's activity in science fiction fandom began in the
midwest U.S. about 1942, when he attended the second
Michicon in the fall of that year.  He was only active
for a couple of years before he went into the military
for World War II, but in that time he became friends
with Al and Abby Lou Ashley and other people in the
Galactic Roamers fan club in central Michigan, and as
a result, spent many happy days at the most famous fan
abode of all time, the legendary Slan Shack of Battle
Creek, Michigan.  Of that place, Dal later wrote that
"fan visitors from far and wide came by to enjoy the
Ashley's hospitality."  Because he became stationed
thousands of miles away, in California, Dal wrote that
"I was immensely unhappy that I couldn't [often] share
in this."

It was actually Dal's good fortune to be stationed at
Camp Haan, in southern California, for his basic
training, and during the relatively short time he was
there before being shipped off to France, he became
friends with the LASFS crowd, including Jim Kepner,
Forry Ackerman, and enigmatic Francis Towner Laney.
Dal later wrote about that time, mentioning that "I
was permitted to flop over the weekend in the [LASFS]
clubhouse [on Bixel Street], and frequently spent
Saturday nights there while on a weekend pass.  Forry
Ackerman and Morojo had made me welcome."

It was about 20 years of gafiation after that, first
in the military and then in academia -- Dal became a
professor at the University of Memphis (Tennessee),
where he was a notable historian and African Studies
writer.  He re-entered fandom in the mid 1970s, and
became a sort of patriarch for Memphis fandom after
that.

I met Dal not long after his re-entry into fandom, at
a small convention in Arkansas where he was
Toastmaster and introduced me to the convention's
Guest of Honor, Bob Tucker.  Dal and I stayed in
contact with each other after that; it was probably
our common interest in history, especially the history
of science fiction fandom, that helped make us
friends.  And even though most of his time was still
absorbed by academic interests, both before and after
his retirement sometime in the 1990s, he still found
time for some fan writing; I am pleased that Nicki and
I were allowed to publish two of his fan
history-related articles in MIMOSA.  He was also a
great conversationalist, and the times we met each
other at conventions usually resulted in a couple of
hours of shared stories (mostly his), about travels
and times past, that were fascinating to listen to.

After Nicki and I moved to Maryland near the end of
1988, Dal and I crossed paths only every year or two,
usually at Midwestcons we both happened to attend.
The most recent time was this past June, and I
remember him looking very energetic and healthy, much
younger than his 80+ years.  For that reason, I don't
think I ever thought that that might be the last time
I'd ever see him.  Unfortunately, I won't, and I am
still trying to come to grips that.  I am going to
miss him greatly.

He was my friend.

A photo of Dal is at this URL:
http://fanac.org/Other_Cons/MidwestCon/m43-023.html

=====
Rich Lynch
==========
MIMOSA web site: http://jophan.org/mimosa/
1960s Fan History Site: http://jophan.org/1960s/

__________________________________________________

Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More
http://faith.yahoo.com