News Summary
Washington, DC mourns the loss of R.H. Ives Goddard III, a leading linguist noted for his work on Algonquian languages. He passed away peacefully at age 84. Goddard’s legacy includes significant contributions to the documentation and revitalization of Indigenous languages, mentoring many in the field and serving as a chief consultant for the Oxford English Dictionary on Indigenous American words. A celebration of his life will be held in Providence, RI, honoring a career dedicated to language and culture.
Washington, DC – Renowned linguist and expert on Algonquian languages, R.H. Ives Goddard III, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 84 on August 6, 2025, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death marks the loss of a significant figure in the field of linguistics, whose work profoundly impacted the documentation and revitalization of Indigenous languages.
Ives was born on June 12, 1941, in Providence, RI, spending his childhood summers in South County, RI, a place he cherished. He is survived by his siblings Thomas PI Goddard (Lisa), Moses BI Goddard (Joan), Margaret HG Leeson, sister-in-law Katharine W Goddard, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert Hale Ives Goddard Jr. and Hope Drury Goddard, his brother William HD Goddard, and brother-in-law Robert Leeson Jr.
Ives attended Moses Brown School in Providence, RI, and St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA, before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and the Classics from Harvard University in 1963. He later received his PhD in 1969. After a junior fellowship at Harvard’s Society of Fellows, he became a junior professor at Harvard and subsequently moved to Washington, DC in 1965, where he dedicated his career to the Smithsonian Institution.
Throughout his tenure at the Smithsonian, Ives held significant positions, including serving as a linguist and technical editor for the Handbook of North American Indians. He retired in 2007 but continued his research as curator emeritus, indicating that he could never fully retire due to his commitment to ongoing translation and recording work.
A leading expert on Algonquian languages, Ives was particularly recognized for his work on Unami (Delaware/Lenape) morphology. His dissertation titled Delaware Verbal Morphology: A Descriptive and Comparative Study paved the way for his future accomplishments in the field. Ives authored numerous grammatical studies, dictionaries, and editions of texts in languages such as Meskwaki (Fox), Wampanoag (Massachusetts), and Munsee (Delaware/Lenape).
Over the years, he made substantial contributions to the methodology of historical linguistics and the revitalization of Indigenous languages. Notably, he served as the chief consultant for the Oxford English Dictionary concerning words of Indigenous American origin. Ives published 15 books and more than 300 articles and book chapters, all while conducting extensive fieldwork across North America, including in regions like New Brunswick, Canada, and Oklahoma, fostering relationships with native speakers.
Ives’s influence extended beyond academia; he was highly esteemed by the Delaware Nation for his contributions to their community. His passion for linguistics began with reading Roger Williams’s A Key into the Language of America, evolving further through exposure to significant linguistic annotations by J. Hammond Trumbull. His interests also encompassed ethnology, history, and natural history, leading to considerable fieldwork in Unami and Munsee Delaware languages.
Known for mentoring many students and colleagues during his time at the Smithsonian, Ives was celebrated for his generosity and expertise. He leaves behind fond memories, including his Scrabble skills, unique popcorn popping chant, and annual Christmas tree hunts that endeared him to many.
A celebration of life service for R.H. Ives Goddard III will be held on November 1, 2025, at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, RI, followed by burial at the family mausoleum, marking a fitting tribute to a man whose dedication to linguistics and Indigenous languages will be remembered for generations to come.
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- Providence Journal: Ellen Steingold Obituary
- Wikipedia: R.H. Ives Goddard III
- Dignity Memorial: Ellen Steingold
- Google Search: R.H. Ives Goddard III
- Providence Journal: Recent Obituary
- Google Scholar: R.H. Ives Goddard III
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