A Tale of Two Marquis | Remembering Robert C. Lafayette, PhD
June 5, 2020
When it came to singing la Marseillaise, the Marquis de Lafayette’s booming baritone always rang out above every voice in the room.
At dinners in his home, Lafayette’s eyes sparkled as students and colleagues discussed and debated everything from novels to current events—all in flawless French.
But, this wasn’t 1790s in the salons of Paris or an audience with American Revolutionary War hero Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Gilbert de Motier. It was 1990s in Baton Rouge at nearly every event hosted by Robert Claude Lafayette, PhD, who had just been appointed chair of the LSU Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
Avant de Venir à Baton Rouge
Lafayette received degrees from the University of Notre Dame, University of Chicago and Ohio State University. Before coming to LSU, he taught French education at Evanston Township High School in Illinois, the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater and Indiana University. Besides having articles published in national journals, Lafayette served as editor for three college-level readers and collaborated on a French advanced reader.
He was among the 200 founders of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and later served on its National Advisory Council. For many years, he remained on the board of directors as chairperson of the Central States Organization on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. A lifetime member of the American Association of French, Lafayette received numerous state, national and international awards, including being named as an officer in the Association of Palmes Academiques by the French Minister of Education.
A lifetime member of the American Association of French, Lafayette received numerous state, national and international awards, including being named as an officer in the Association of Palmes Academiques by the French Minister of Education.
Bienvenue à Louisiane
“Dr. Lafayette specifically came to LSU with the responsibility to direct doctoral research and teach in the French Education program,” explains F. Neil Mathews, PhD, director of LSU School of Education and Olinde Endowed Professor. “He was an outstanding researcher, teacher and contributor to the life of the department, college and university.”
A vanguard of foreign language instruction, Lafayette was one of the early advocates of incorporating immersion teaching methods rather relying on rote and repetition.
“Regardless of what Dr. Lafayette was teaching—a novel or a grammar lesson—he made sure he seamlessly threaded in French, Acadian, Ivory Coast, Belgian culture,” says Dean of Southeastern University School of Education Paula Calderon, PhD, who was Lafayette’s graduate assistant and a high school French teacher. “He was a big proponent of teaching culture—not as a discreet content area—but woven into any language class.”
Not surprisingly, Lafayette’s reputation and influence extended far beyond Baton Rouge.
“We, as language professionals, are indebted to Bob for his dedication to improving the art and craft of language instruction,” says Lynne McClendon, former executive director of the Southern Conference on Language Teaching. “[Sharing] his expertise in his classroom and with various language organizations has had far-reaching, positive effects throughout the language community.”
While his academic credentials were impeccable, Lafayette is best remembered for his sense of humor, love of teaching and his commitment to his students. He treasured and maintained many of those relationships far beyond the students’ graduation, well after his retirement in 2005 and until his death in September 2019.
“Regardless of what Dr. Lafayette was teaching—a novel or a grammar lesson—he made sure he seamlessly threaded in French, Acadian, Ivory Coast, Belgian culture,” says Dean of Southeastern University School of Education Paula Calderon, PhD, who was Lafayette’s graduate assistant and a high school French teacher. “He was a big proponent of teaching culture—not as a discreet content area—but woven into any language class.”
Université des 25 Sous
“I think I took every course Bob offered,” says Terri Hammatt, an instructional strategist with Wayside Publishing, formerly of the Louisiana Department of Education. “I also enrolled in his summer institutes and his immersion weekends.”
In addition to tackling topics such as la Francophonie, la litérature enfantine, les comptes, la Révolution Française, le Québec, la Louisiane, la France, etc., each themed session was packed with language acquisition methodology and teaching strategies. Program participants lived together in a sorority house on the LSU campus.
“We called it the Université des 25 sous,” explains Hammatt. “We had to pay 25 cents each time we spoke in English—that rarely happened.”
Former French teacher at LSU Laboratory School Mary McGehee worked with Lafayette for many years. “Everyone fortunate enough to have known Dr. Robert Lafayette benefited from his kindness of spirit, his generosity with his time, and his enormous knowledge and creativity,” she says. “He took joy in bringing people together in fun ways, whether for in-service or state organization conferences, bringing immersion students from around the state to LSU to enjoy performances from around the Francophone world.”
Annette Tamuly met Lafayette at the Gare de l’Est in Paris and became his linguistic attachée from 1987 to 1992. Although the French native was originally apprehensive about coming to LSU. “Those were certainly the best years in my career,” she says. “It was inspiring to share Bob’s dynamism and constant devotion to the cause of keeping French alive in Louisiana [including] introducing telelearning to the French teachers all over Louisiana [and] activities he organized for the bicentenary of the French Revolution.” Above all, she says, “I cherish the many memories of Bob’s unfailing kindness toward me and my husband.” After returning to France, Tamuly hosted Lafayette on subsequent visits to Alsace.
However, linguistics was just one of Lafayette’s many talents.
Le Marquis et Plus
“At random times—it didn’t have to be an occasion or a birthday—if we had a class or group of people getting together, the Marquis de Lafayette would pop in the door,” says Calderon. “At the Friends of French Studies’ yearly meeting, we would all sit together and sing the French national anthem,” she recalls. “He would be the loudest voice [with] all the words memorized. He loved to sing and had a nice voice.”
After his retirement—even in a wheelchair—Lafayette opened his home for parties and gave of his time and energy for colleagues and friends.
“A celebrated bon vivant of epicurean taste, Dr. Lafayette was a sophisticated oenophile and connoisseur of haute cuisine,” says Chad Gothreaux, CHSE assistant dean for administration and strategic initiatives. “Ever the teacher, he enjoyed sharing his passion and knowledge with others nearly as much as he loved to savor the experiences himself.”
The Francophile had a way of making American holidays special as well. “Long before fried turkeys became popular, Bob became a master of this technique,” explains former Dean Jayne Fleener. “One particular, cold [Thanksgiving] morning, he set up as usual--with lots of liquid libations to fortify himself and his helpers,” she recalls. “As the day wore on, the turkeys and Bob became redder by the hour. Let’s just say: Both were well done by lunch!”
Despite the two centuries that separated their lives, both Marquis served their causes admirably; cut a dashing figure white wigs, epaulets, breeches and boots; and, left an inspiring and enduring legacy.
Christine Merchant reflects the sentiments of many former students and colleagues in this recent tribute.
"Merci Bob, dear Dr. Lafayette, pour avoir croisé ma route et m'avoir tant appris tout au long de ma vie professionnelle. Merci pour ton rire de tonnerre, ta générosité, ton enthousiasme et ta passion pour le français. Tu seras pour toujours dans nos coeurs et parmi nos élèves."