Born on September 3, 1921, in Portland, he prepared for college at Portland High School and became a member of Theta Delta Chi Fraternity at Bowdoin. Following his graduation cum laude in 1943 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, he did graduate work for three years at Columbia University in New York City, from which he received a master of arts degree in American literature in 1946 and a doctor of philosophy degree, also in American literature, in 1971.While a graduate student he also taught at Drew University in New Jersey. In 1946 he joined the faculty at Portland Junior College, which was started that year and which grew into the University of Maine in Portland, the University of Maine Portland-Gorham, and finally the University of Southern Maine. He remained there on a full- time basis for 36 years and then continued to teach on a part-time basis for more than ten years. In addition to teaching English classes, he served as an assistant dean, an assistant director, and an assistant dean of men. In Bowdoin affairs he was 1943’s class secretary for some years and also served as its class agent in the Alumni Fund. Surviving are his wife, Kay Willworth Jaques, whom he married in 1951; a son, John W. Jaques of Windham; two daughters, Mary Jo Daigle of Arundel and Kathy A. Peary of South Portland; a sister, Carol Souviney of Winslow; three grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.