Cécile Danehy in Memorium
The International Comic Arts Forum is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Cécile Danehy, Associate Professor of French Studies at Wheaton College, on October 20, 2019. Cécile was one of the earliest member of the ICAF Executive Committee and a champion of the scholarly exploration of comics, joining the organization in 1997 and serving as the Chair from 2008-2011. She presided over the group during the forums at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Center for Cartoon Studies, and helped to strengthen partnerships with the International Journal of Comic Art and the American Bande Dessinée Society. Click here to read her full obituary online.
Below, past and present ICAF Chairs honor Cécile's friendship and lasting influence within our academic community: |
Illustration by Stanford Carpenter
ICAF Executive Committee (2005-2013) |
Charles Hatfield
Professor of English, California State University Northridge
ICAF Executive Committee (1997-2009; Chair 2004-2005)
Cécile Danehy, our esteemed colleague and friend, was among the first members recruited by Guy Spielmann to the Executive Committee of ICAF (then the International Comics and Animation Festival) after the pivotal ICAF of 1996. Cécile taught at Middlebury College (Vermont) then, where she had created courses on francophone bandes dessinées—a move that Laurence Grove has rightly described as a “milestone” in US, and more broadly anglophone, BD studies.
Indeed, by 1996 Cécile had already been a pioneer in bringing BD to North American universities. Guy, eager to continue ICAF beyond the unique (and splendid) events of 1995 and 1996, sought to create a board of co-organizers who could sustain the conference in perpetuity. To that end, at the close of ICAF 1996 he approached a number of presenters and, essentially, recruited them to the new Executive Committee, which would take on, especially in 1998 and beyond, the responsibility of brainstorming and putting on ICAF. Cécile joined that group, the ICAF class of 1997 so to speak, and remained on the Executive Committee as long as anyone, working heroically to nurture ICAF through a number of, in hindsight, seismic changes in format, ethos, and organization. She was the real deal, and her commitment and collegiality made all the difference.
As Chair, as academic coordinator, and as a flexible and pragmatic member at large, Cécile brought her candor and sharp wit, generous spirit, and tireless work ethic to ICAF, an organization that was, for many years, somewhat ad hoc and unpredictable in its structure and practices. For quite some time, the conference’s working arrangements and financial and institutional backing were chancy, and it was only the determination of the members of the Executive Committee that kept it going. In fact, I think it unlikely that ICAF could have continued without Cécile, who showed great patience and faith through our various growing pains. I remember her as a crucial member and sustaining presence through all our many changes: a warm, emphatically engaged colleague, and one who got things done.
At the time that cancer so cruelly took Cécile away, I had not seen her in many years—not since, I think, the 2011 ICAF in at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont (which she co-chaired with our great good friend Ana Merino). Cécile had been in touch with me about her illness, and we had exchanged several messages; in fact, she had sent me a number of books and journals that, as she explained to me, she felt she no longer needed. These volumes are now in my university office. I am pained by the thought that she passed without prompt acknowledgment from her colleagues in comics studies, that I myself had not been in touch with her for a while, and that her pioneering work has mostly gone under-recognized. From her birth in Casablanca and childhood in Dijon, to her grad studies at the University of Virginia, to her many years teaching French language and literature, both at Middlebury and then at Wheaton College, Cécile Danehy traced an extraordinary path. Adieu, dear colleague, and merci beaucoup for, among other things, helping keep the dream of ICAF alive.
Professor of English, California State University Northridge
ICAF Executive Committee (1997-2009; Chair 2004-2005)
Cécile Danehy, our esteemed colleague and friend, was among the first members recruited by Guy Spielmann to the Executive Committee of ICAF (then the International Comics and Animation Festival) after the pivotal ICAF of 1996. Cécile taught at Middlebury College (Vermont) then, where she had created courses on francophone bandes dessinées—a move that Laurence Grove has rightly described as a “milestone” in US, and more broadly anglophone, BD studies.
Indeed, by 1996 Cécile had already been a pioneer in bringing BD to North American universities. Guy, eager to continue ICAF beyond the unique (and splendid) events of 1995 and 1996, sought to create a board of co-organizers who could sustain the conference in perpetuity. To that end, at the close of ICAF 1996 he approached a number of presenters and, essentially, recruited them to the new Executive Committee, which would take on, especially in 1998 and beyond, the responsibility of brainstorming and putting on ICAF. Cécile joined that group, the ICAF class of 1997 so to speak, and remained on the Executive Committee as long as anyone, working heroically to nurture ICAF through a number of, in hindsight, seismic changes in format, ethos, and organization. She was the real deal, and her commitment and collegiality made all the difference.
As Chair, as academic coordinator, and as a flexible and pragmatic member at large, Cécile brought her candor and sharp wit, generous spirit, and tireless work ethic to ICAF, an organization that was, for many years, somewhat ad hoc and unpredictable in its structure and practices. For quite some time, the conference’s working arrangements and financial and institutional backing were chancy, and it was only the determination of the members of the Executive Committee that kept it going. In fact, I think it unlikely that ICAF could have continued without Cécile, who showed great patience and faith through our various growing pains. I remember her as a crucial member and sustaining presence through all our many changes: a warm, emphatically engaged colleague, and one who got things done.
At the time that cancer so cruelly took Cécile away, I had not seen her in many years—not since, I think, the 2011 ICAF in at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont (which she co-chaired with our great good friend Ana Merino). Cécile had been in touch with me about her illness, and we had exchanged several messages; in fact, she had sent me a number of books and journals that, as she explained to me, she felt she no longer needed. These volumes are now in my university office. I am pained by the thought that she passed without prompt acknowledgment from her colleagues in comics studies, that I myself had not been in touch with her for a while, and that her pioneering work has mostly gone under-recognized. From her birth in Casablanca and childhood in Dijon, to her grad studies at the University of Virginia, to her many years teaching French language and literature, both at Middlebury and then at Wheaton College, Cécile Danehy traced an extraordinary path. Adieu, dear colleague, and merci beaucoup for, among other things, helping keep the dream of ICAF alive.
Ana Merino
Professor, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, The University of Iowa
ICAF Executive Committee (2000-2011; Chair 2010-2011)
I meet lovely Cecile Danehy back in September 1998 in ICAF in Bethesda. She was moderating my first English paper presentation and a young Bart Beaty, as graduate student, was on the same panel with us. Cecile was a person full of light and with wonderful energy, she had a charming French accent and it was one of the few women comic scholars of the moment. I was a graduate student in a true need for role-models entering the academic space of comics. She gave me great advice and an incredible support since day one.
Then, in 2000 I join the board as executive member and she was a great friend and a marvelous colleague to work with preparing together the ICAF conference during more than a decade. Cecile was adorable, warm and very intelligent, is very difficult to imagine she is gone. We had great times back in the late 90’s working like crazy with the executive committee until 2011, when we co-chaired our last ICAF in The Center for Cartoon Studies. That was a fantastic closure in Vermont and then we pass the torch to a new great generation. During years we were having weekly contacts preparing everything, but when we retired from our duties at ICAF our contact lapse, not our love from each other.
The years we partner with SPX at Bethesda I remember all the members of the executive committee arriving and eating at a Mongolian Restaurant and planning the days ahead. Cecile was always pragmatic, ready to work and to find all type of solutions with a unique sense of humor. On those years John Lent was starting his magazine the IJOCA and I remember both of us giving him our total support and trying to make comics readers at SPX to subscribe at the IJOCA. On those times to truly help the academic side of comics it was important find new readers and open comics to the great international debates. We have so much fun sharing our passions and secrets, speaking about comics and life. We loved to meet graduate students arriving to our conference that were planning to write their thesis on comics and then, over the years, see them to grow up into incredible scholars.
I never thought that Cecile was going to be the first of the ICAF team leaving us. I never imagine she was going to leave this world so soon. Because when I think about Cecile, I see her smiling in Bethesda, in the Library of Congress, in Chicago or in White River Junction. I see her still vivid in front of me happy to see me and ready to hug me. I love Cecile a lot and I am crying like a little girl writing this note. Cecile, we have great times, I never going to forget you. Thanks for everything. -- Ana Merino (your Spanish amiga)
Professor, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, The University of Iowa
ICAF Executive Committee (2000-2011; Chair 2010-2011)
I meet lovely Cecile Danehy back in September 1998 in ICAF in Bethesda. She was moderating my first English paper presentation and a young Bart Beaty, as graduate student, was on the same panel with us. Cecile was a person full of light and with wonderful energy, she had a charming French accent and it was one of the few women comic scholars of the moment. I was a graduate student in a true need for role-models entering the academic space of comics. She gave me great advice and an incredible support since day one.
Then, in 2000 I join the board as executive member and she was a great friend and a marvelous colleague to work with preparing together the ICAF conference during more than a decade. Cecile was adorable, warm and very intelligent, is very difficult to imagine she is gone. We had great times back in the late 90’s working like crazy with the executive committee until 2011, when we co-chaired our last ICAF in The Center for Cartoon Studies. That was a fantastic closure in Vermont and then we pass the torch to a new great generation. During years we were having weekly contacts preparing everything, but when we retired from our duties at ICAF our contact lapse, not our love from each other.
The years we partner with SPX at Bethesda I remember all the members of the executive committee arriving and eating at a Mongolian Restaurant and planning the days ahead. Cecile was always pragmatic, ready to work and to find all type of solutions with a unique sense of humor. On those years John Lent was starting his magazine the IJOCA and I remember both of us giving him our total support and trying to make comics readers at SPX to subscribe at the IJOCA. On those times to truly help the academic side of comics it was important find new readers and open comics to the great international debates. We have so much fun sharing our passions and secrets, speaking about comics and life. We loved to meet graduate students arriving to our conference that were planning to write their thesis on comics and then, over the years, see them to grow up into incredible scholars.
I never thought that Cecile was going to be the first of the ICAF team leaving us. I never imagine she was going to leave this world so soon. Because when I think about Cecile, I see her smiling in Bethesda, in the Library of Congress, in Chicago or in White River Junction. I see her still vivid in front of me happy to see me and ready to hug me. I love Cecile a lot and I am crying like a little girl writing this note. Cecile, we have great times, I never going to forget you. Thanks for everything. -- Ana Merino (your Spanish amiga)
José Alaniz
Professor, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures, University of Washington
ICAF Executive Committee (2009-2017, Chair 2011-2017)
I met Cécile Danehy at my very first ICAF, in Bethesda in 1998, an event that changed my life.
She was a wonderful person, funny, and a brilliant scholar. Cécile did more than anyone other than the founders to make ICAF a leading comics studies conference. She was tireless, often doing the work of several people, as the organization was coming together and professionalizing in the mid-to-late 2000s.
She helped me immensely, especially in my first years as chair. Any question or concern that came up, I would always contact Cécile for her advice and expertise. She never failed me. She never failed ICAF.
It saddened me to hear of her death and I support efforts to name an award or other honor after her. Au revoir, chère amie.
Professor, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures, University of Washington
ICAF Executive Committee (2009-2017, Chair 2011-2017)
I met Cécile Danehy at my very first ICAF, in Bethesda in 1998, an event that changed my life.
She was a wonderful person, funny, and a brilliant scholar. Cécile did more than anyone other than the founders to make ICAF a leading comics studies conference. She was tireless, often doing the work of several people, as the organization was coming together and professionalizing in the mid-to-late 2000s.
She helped me immensely, especially in my first years as chair. Any question or concern that came up, I would always contact Cécile for her advice and expertise. She never failed me. She never failed ICAF.
It saddened me to hear of her death and I support efforts to name an award or other honor after her. Au revoir, chère amie.
Qiana Whitted
Professor of English and African American Studies, University of South Carolina
ICAF Executive Committee (2010-Present; Chair since 2018)
As a junior scholar in comics studies ten years ago, Cécile was the first person to introduce herself to me at my first ICAF at the School for the Art Institute of Chicago. It was her warm welcome that encouraged me to become more involved with the group when I wasn't even sure that my presence or my ideas about comics would be welcome. Not only did I admire her research and teaching on francophone comics, I also had the privilege of working under her leadership on the 2011 forum at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont. During the planning of that conference, we began to develop a meaningful friendship. It was through Cécile that I began to understand the amount of time and careful effort required behind the scenes, along with partnerships to expand the reach of our academic community. (I learned, too, from her deft negotiating skills that secured lower room rates for conference attendees at the local Fairfield Inn & Suites!) Getting to know Cécile was an honor. Our group and our profession is truly better because of her important work.
Professor of English and African American Studies, University of South Carolina
ICAF Executive Committee (2010-Present; Chair since 2018)
As a junior scholar in comics studies ten years ago, Cécile was the first person to introduce herself to me at my first ICAF at the School for the Art Institute of Chicago. It was her warm welcome that encouraged me to become more involved with the group when I wasn't even sure that my presence or my ideas about comics would be welcome. Not only did I admire her research and teaching on francophone comics, I also had the privilege of working under her leadership on the 2011 forum at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont. During the planning of that conference, we began to develop a meaningful friendship. It was through Cécile that I began to understand the amount of time and careful effort required behind the scenes, along with partnerships to expand the reach of our academic community. (I learned, too, from her deft negotiating skills that secured lower room rates for conference attendees at the local Fairfield Inn & Suites!) Getting to know Cécile was an honor. Our group and our profession is truly better because of her important work.