Professor Stefano Zacchetti - obituary

Professor Stefano Zacchetti, 1968-2020

With great sadness we announce the sudden death on 29 April 2020 of Professor Stefano Zacchetti, Yehan Numata Professor of Buddhist Studies and Professorial Fellow of Balliol College.  Professor Zacchetti’s research focused on early Chinese Buddhist translations, Mahāyāna Buddhist literature in Sanskrit and Chinese, early Chinese Buddhist commentaries and the history of the Chinese Buddhist canon.  His publications include his monograph In Praise of the Light (Tokyo 2005) and many scholarly articles.  Stefano came to Oxford in 2012 and his passing away not only deprives us of his eminent scholarship but also of his friendship, kindness and endless good humour. He loved his life in the University and his college, and made many friends here.  Both undergraduates and graduates who have been taught by him will well remember his humour, grace and inner composure. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his family and his many friends at this painful time.