Wilga M. Rivers, Ph.D., of Watertown, Professor of Emeritus of Romance Languages at Harvard University, died suddenly at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. She was an internationally renowned scholar and aughor, and on of the first women to be appointed to a full professorship at Harvard.
She was born in Melbourne, Australia. Professor Rivers was the daughter of the late John and Nina (Lehmann) Rivers, and the sister of the late Lynda Rivers, and Regg, Less and Harald Tanner also of Melbourne. She is survived by her sister in law Bess Tanner, a niece, Christine Levey of Melbourne; a nephew, Michael Tanner of Sydney, Australia, a nices, Laurelle Hardt of Los Angeles, CA, and several grand nieces and grand nephews in Australia. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 9 Russell Ave., Watertown, MA 02472. A memorial Service will be heldin her honor at Harvard University at a date to be announced.