In Memoriam: Margaret Janvier Pyle Hassert

Article by UDaily staff December 14, 2020

Community remembers retired Writing Center director

Margaret Janvier Pyle Hassert, retired director of the University of Delaware Writing Center, died on Nov. 11, 2020, at the age of 87.

As director of the Writing Center from 1974 until her retirement in 1997, Ms. Hassert was well-known for helping, encouraging and strengthening students’ skills in English, reading and writing. A pioneer in ESL education and a resource for other educators, she was a skilled editor for several books and publications.

Margaret Janvier Pyle Hassert

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, on November 8, 1933, she was the eldest daughter of the late Sophie Janvier Pyle and Walter Pyle, Jr. Her early years were spent on her family's farm in Stanton. After her marriage to the late James E. Hassert ended, she raised her four children while attending classes at the University of Delaware, where she earned her master’s degree in English.

Her family notes that she could always be found helping her children and grandchildren with their schoolwork and writing, and besides silently correcting your grammar (but not always silently), her hobbies included playing bridge, doing puzzles (particularly The New York Times crossword in pen), gardening, writing poetry and working with miniatures, which were award winning. She was a voracious reader and especially enjoyed mysteries. She loved animals and owned many dogs and cats during her lifetime. She enjoyed traveling and went to Egypt, China, Italy, Europe, the Baltic and Alaska. She also spent many happy summers at the beach in Delaware with her family.

In the 1990s, Ms. Hassert moved to Old New Castle where she renovated her historic house and garden. She was an active member of the Immanuel Church on the Green, the Arasapha Garden Club and the Trustees of the New Castle Common, where she evaluated essays from scholarship applicants.

According to her family, Ms. Hassert an extremely loving, fair-mindedand generous mother who was very proud of her four children. She was also known for her wry sense of humor.

She is survived by her sister, Ellen Homsey; her four children: Anne Lambert (Andy), Ellen Levine (Steve), Mary Sing (Bill) and Jamie Hassert (Kathryn); six grandchildren: Becca, Sarah, David, Daniel, Emily and Laura; four great grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and cousins. Her youngest sister, Sophie Homsey (survived by her husband, David Niles), died in 2019.

Burial will be private. Donations in Ms. Hassert’s memory may be made to Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, 170 Possum Park Hollow Rd., Newark, DE 19711 or online at at tristatebird.org.

Condolences may be left online.