Professor Mendell came to Yale as an undergraduate from the Boston Latin School in the autumn of 1900 and thereafter – except for the periods of two world wars – was either in the center of or scarcely separable from Yale concerns and interests for virtually seventy years.

This notice will be confined to a brief review of Professor Mendell's published work, which speaks for itself. It should be remembered, however, that his eight books, thirty articles and a score of review and minor papers were the fruit of tranquil intervals in an extremely active life which the very diversity of his native gifts made inescapable. It was a life filled with teaching, administrative responsibilities (including eleven years as dean of Yale College), chairmanships and directorships of organizations, service to the nation in two world wars, and the answering of incessant calls to speak to academic and alumni groups. Of his services to classical education outside Yale particular mention should be made of his years devoted to the Classical Committee of the American Academy in Rome. He was unique in his days at Yale in that each circle with which he was associated felt that Dean Mendell was primarily one of them. His forte was the inspirational teaching of undergraduates, generations of whom can never forget him.