John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) passed away on September 2nd, 1973, at the age of 81. Tolkien was a world-renowned author and academic. Born in South Africa in 1892 to Briton parents, he moved with his family to the United Kingdom in 1895. He served in World War I, and later earned degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge universities. Through his academic career, he explored language, literature, and mythology. Tolkien is perhaps best known for his fantasy novel The Hobbit, followed by the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also wrote multiple other works including The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. All of his writings are greatly admired, with The Lord of the Rings trilogy having earned international recognition both as a book and as a film. Tolkien was a highly respected scholar, and considerable influence on fantasy and science fiction literature and popular culture. He was also widely influential in the fields of philology, linguistics, and general literature, enriching the English language with his creative works. Tolkien's memory will be forever cherished as an inspiration and source of joy and wisdom.