Deceased January 10, 2022
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In Memory
We write to share fond memories of our friend and partner-in-song Stafford Carter Noble, who passed away in January 2022, after a period of declining health.
Stafford came to Amherst in 1971 from his home in Columbus, Ohio, with a passion for literature, talent in writing and a stellar singing voice that would lead to energetic and remarkable music-making.
Known for his upbeat approach to all things, Stafford was a standout first tenor with the Glee Club and Zumbyes. His beautiful voice soared in solos, and he blended into a cappella numbers smoothly with perfect pitch. Memories of his ringing solo performances of “Blue Moon” and “Tears on My Pillow” resound in our hearts. He was great fun in Glee Club travels and on Zumbye road trips, dashingly donning his tails or blue blazer and livening up the concert after-parties.
After majoring in English at Amherst, Stafford studied at The American University in Cairo, later returning to Columbus to study Arabic languages at Ohio State. He became the university’s program administrator for Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, a position he held until his retirement.
Stafford’s career saw burgeoning interest in the Near East. His work at OSU helped the curriculum extend beyond Hebrew and Arabic into other languages and cultures. He worked with colleagues, developing immersive study-abroad programs and interdisciplinary curricula that helped students situate their language studies in historical and real-world contexts.
Stafford is survived by his wife, one brother and two nieces, who were said to be the “lights of his life.” He was very much a bright light in our lives at Amherst. We celebrate the memory of his song, his dry wit, his even-tempered manner, his camaraderie and his friendship.
Chauncey Benedict ’75 and Bennett Ojserkis ’75