Alfred was a major influence for author John J.Osborn Jr. '67.

When he was in his third year at HLS, Osbornbegan writing The Paper Chase. He soughtacademic credit for the book and was told to findan adviser.

"I called Alfred up," Osborn said. "He said, `Idon't need to read the stuff, I'll take you rightnow.'"

"I showed him my first stuff, and he said,`Osborn, you are a genius. This is the best stuffI have ever seen,'" Osborn recalled.

Alfred proceeded to make a few changes, andOsborn, who was thrilled at Alfred's enthusiasm,spent the next weekend working on the novel.

"The next week, I took them back to him,"Osborn said. "He said, `Boy I'm glad you did this.This stuff is acceptable now.'"

Alfred then said that if he had been honest thefirst time, Osborn would never have finished thenovel.

After Osborn completed the book, he askedAlfred whether his work could be published.

"He said, `Yes, but you're not really ready forit,'" Osborn said.

But Osborn decided that if there was potentialfor publication, he was going to try for it--andAlfred offered the names of three majorpublishers.

The book was bought within a week.

Osborn has always given Alfred credit forhelping him with The Paper Chase, butAlfred always deflected the praise.

"I had a letter from him six months ago,"Osborn said. "He said, `Would you stop it? I neverdid anything to help.'"

Brustein remembers fondly when Alfred recentlygave the Spencer Lecture at Harvard, an event thathonors a person for work in the theater.

"He ranged freely over his career as a theaterperson in a very moving, but quiet lecture,"Brustein said. "There was something saintly andhallowed about it."

Osborn said his mentor was a wonderful man.

"He was funny; he was Irish; he was eccentric,"Osborn said. "He dressed like a gentlemen. He wasalways very formal. He was an exceptional,exceptional person.