Scholarship
John Osborne and James W. Gerencser, eds., “Ovando Byron Super,” Dickinson Chronicles, http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/s/ed_superOB.htm.
Ovando Super was born March 2, 1848 in Juniata Township, Pennsylvania, to Henry and Mary Diener Super. He attended local schools but largely prepared himself for college. He entered Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1871 and graduated near the head of the class in 1873. While a student he had been selected to the Belles Lettres Literary Society.
Following graduation, Super taught modern languages at Delaware College from 1873 to 1876. He then traveled to Leipzig and Paris to study German and French. Upon his return to the United States, Super became instructor in languages at the Dickinson Seminary, now Lycoming College; during this time he was awarded his master's degree from Dickinson College. In 1880 he left for Denver College where he took the position of professor of modern languages. While teaching at Denver, he earned a Ph.D. from Boston University. Super returned to his alma mater in 1884, this time as a professor of modern languages, teaching French, German, and Spanish. He also wrote many textbooks for students of the French and German languages. He also edited the Alumni Record at the College. He remained on the faculty at Dickinson until his retirement in 1913. His brother Dr. C.W. Super, class of 1866, had been president of Ohio University.
In July 1880, Super had married Emma Murray Lefferts of New York City. The couple had three daughters. During his retirement in San Diego, California, his sight failed and he continued his scholarship by learning Braille. Early in 1935, Super developed a serious stomach ailment. His health problems were further complicated by a fall while at his daughter's house in Bakersfield a few months later. Ovando Super never recovered from this accident and subsequently died in his sleep at his daughter's home on October 29, 1935. He was eighty-eight years old.
Following graduation, Super taught modern languages at Delaware College from 1873 to 1876. He then traveled to Leipzig and Paris to study German and French. Upon his return to the United States, Super became instructor in languages at the Dickinson Seminary, now Lycoming College; during this time he was awarded his master's degree from Dickinson College. In 1880 he left for Denver College where he took the position of professor of modern languages. While teaching at Denver, he earned a Ph.D. from Boston University. Super returned to his alma mater in 1884, this time as a professor of modern languages, teaching French, German, and Spanish. He also wrote many textbooks for students of the French and German languages. He also edited the Alumni Record at the College. He remained on the faculty at Dickinson until his retirement in 1913. His brother Dr. C.W. Super, class of 1866, had been president of Ohio University.
In July 1880, Super had married Emma Murray Lefferts of New York City. The couple had three daughters. During his retirement in San Diego, California, his sight failed and he continued his scholarship by learning Braille. Early in 1935, Super developed a serious stomach ailment. His health problems were further complicated by a fall while at his daughter's house in Bakersfield a few months later. Ovando Super never recovered from this accident and subsequently died in his sleep at his daughter's home on October 29, 1935. He was eighty-eight years old.