One of the sadder emails I did manage to read while I was away told me of the death of amicus noster James Butrica of Memorial University in Newfoundland. Although I'd like a more detailed obituary (one will apparently appear in the Canadian Classical Bulletin), this one from the Telegram will have to do for now:

BUTRICA, James L. - Passed away on July 20, 2006 at the Miller Center, St. John's at the age of 55, after a year-long battle with cancer. Born in Camden, NJ, Jim came to Newfoundland to join the Department of Classics at Memorial University. For more than twenty years he was a devoted teacher and renowned scholar of Latin literature. He is survived by his brother Andrew and family of Bethesda, Maryland. Leaving to mourn also are his many friends and colleagues