As dean, he brought Harvard's choruses underone umbrella. Peabody Professor of Music emeritusElliot Forbes says Epps was instrumental insecuring Holden Chapel as a headquarters forchoral groups.

Along with his musical pursuits, Epps also hasa passion for Harvard history. He says hesometimes passes long hours walking in cemeteries,spotting the graves of the University'spresidents.

In 1986, Epps was a driving force behind thecommemoration of Harvard's 350th anniversary.Ignoring the skepticism of The Crimson and others,he organized an outdoor anniversary ball thatattracted 4,500 students, two-thirds of theCollege's population.

It is that love of Harvard and its historywhich Gomes says will be missed the most.

"I think Dean Epps represents...aprebureaucratic vision of what Harvard College canbe," Gomes says. "It's very difficult to constructsuch a world any longer... That quality is thething I worry most will be lost. They candefinitely get someone to make the trains run ontime--but the notion of where the trains run toand from is in danger."

--Carmen J. Iglesias and Susie Y. Huangcontributed to the reporting of this article.