Anne-Marie de Moret, Ph.D.: 1925-2017

Anne-Marie de Moret, Ph.D., Professor Emerita from the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures (now known as the Department of Languages, Literaturs and Cultures) at Saint Louis University for nearly three decades, died Saturday March 11, in Tampa, Florida. She was 91.

Born in Foug, France, de Moret served in the French underground during the Nazi occupation in World War II. 

She went on to receive her doctoral degree from the University of Paris-Sorbonne in 1947.  Afterward, de Moret came to St. Louis, Missouri, as the first woman Fulbright scholar from France and taught French and French Literature at Webster College, Maryville University and Washington University before joining the Saint Louis University faculty in 1960.

At Saint Louis University, de Moret was the founder and editor of Francité and The Common Heritage, and was the first professor to teach courses in Existentialism and Francophone literature.  She was also known for her course, "Theatre-in-Translation,"which always had a record student enrollment.  She was the founder and director of L'Atelier, which was dedicated to presenting American premieres of French theatre in the original. 

In addition to her many academic and artistic accomplishments, de Moret made a great impact on her students.

Anne Craver, J.D., Ph.D., who has stayed in touch with de Moret for more than 40 years, first met her in 1974 as an undergraduate student in French and Chinese at SLU.

“We became close friends during my fellowship for a Master’s degree from SLU in French and Chinese in 1977-79,” Craver said. “She was a constant source of inspiration and ideas.”

“To say that Anne-Marie was a 'dynamo' is an understatement,” Craver added. “Her boundless energy was incredible and contagious. We would almost need to create a new word.  She was always searching for the next project to do, play to produce, new course to create, etc.  I will never forget her as a poet, loving friend and mentor who was not only devoted to her students of French and French literature, but to all those in search of love and understanding in this world full of hate and distrust of others.  We need people like Anne-Marie in our world today more than ever before.”

In addition to her teaching, she was a prolific writer, poet, expert translator, director of many plays, and a lifelong promoter of the arts and culture.

In 1987, de Moret retired as Professor Emerita from Saint Louis University to Tampa, where she continued to promote French language and culture as the president of Alliance Francaise of Tampa. In 1997, she received the key to the City of Tampa for her creation of the Sister Cities Association between Tampa and Le Havre, France.

She is survived by her two sons, Marc Hamburg of Tampa, Florida and Eric Hamburg, M.D. (Mary) of Baraboo, Wisconsin; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Marie Elizabeth and Marie Hélène.

A memorial service and mass will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 31, at the Lake Forest Clubhouse, 14735 Lake Forest Drive, Lutz, Florida, 33559.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tampa Art Museum, Straz Center or any program dedicated to the arts.