This image from a BU surveillance camera is the last reported sighting of John Daverio.

Body identified as missing BU professor

By Martin Finucane, Associated Press, 04/15/03

BOSTON -- A body found floating in the Charles River was identified Tuesday as John Daverio, a Boston University professor whose disappearance a month ago baffled investigators and the university community.

Daverio, whose body was found Monday by the BU rowing team, had drowned, said Emily LaGrassa, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex district attorney's office. She said Daverio had been identified using dental records.

Boston police Capt. William Evans said there was no indication of trauma to the body, and investigators do not suspect foul play.

While an autopsy determined the cause of death was drowning, the circumstances of Daverio's death were still unknown, LaGrassa said. Prosecutors said it wasn't clear how long the body had been in the water.

The body was discovered by the BU men's crew team, which was rowing on the river around 7:30 p.m. Monday, prosecutors said.

Daverio, a Boston University School of Music professor, was last seen on March 16 at about 8:40 p.m., heading toward the BU Bridge, which spans the Charles River.

Daverio had taught at BU since 1979 and was named department chairman in 2002.

Friends and students have described Daverio as a mild-mannered man with a dry sense of humor and a strong devotion to his work.

Daverio, 48, was one of the world's leading scholars on the work of composer Robert Schumann. He recently published a book called "Crossing Paths: Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms," which explored the link between art and life in the work of the three musicians.

University officials praised Daverio as a renowned scholar.

"He was a distinguished, provocative, fine, scintillating teacher," said Andre De Quandros, Director of the School of Music at the BU College of Fine Arts.

Elizabeth Seitz, a fellow music professor who had been Daverio's friend for 18 years, said Tuesday that Daverio was "just the greatest guy, sweet, funny and intelligent and just always there" for his friends.

Seitz rejected any hypothesis that Daverios had committed suicide.

"There's just no way. He was too involved with work. He had too many things going on. He was doing well. He was at the peak of his career. ... He was always busy, had a million friends. And everyone universally respected and liked him."

Nancy Ackerman of Concord, a former student, said, "He was probably my favorite professor of all in Boston University. He was an incredibly brilliant man. He was articulate. He was kind. He was fair and just a really nice person."

Jane Fitzgerald of Rutland, also a friend and former student, said, "It's a huge loss for a lot of people."