Thomas said Marius--the author of biographies on Thomas More and Martin Luther, and a trained Southern preacher--had a background that made him a skilled orator.

"Harvard was not by any means an obvious place for him to end up," said Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68. "He was able to view and comment on the Harvard scene with a tremendous amount of insight and good humor."

But Marius made Boston his home, becoming an ardent Red Sox fan. Lewis said he attended a baseball game with Marius every year, and was treated to stories of minor and major league baseball games that Marius had seen "40 or 50 years ago" in Tennessee.

To Zwick, Marius represented the quintessential Harvard professor.

"I remember I took a photograph of him with one of my freshman year roommates," Zwick said. "I remember thinking that's what a Harvard professor ought to be--the bowtie and the really effusive personality."

Marius is survived by his wife and three sons, Richard H. Marius, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Frederick S. Marius, of Winchester, Mass.; and John B. Marius, of New York City. He also has two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held for Marius in Memorial Church sometime during the next few months.