Joseph Boskin, a Boston University scholar renowned for his humor research, became an unintentional figure in April Fools' Day lore after mistakenly being labeled as an expert on the holiday's origins. His facetious response about researching the topic led to a whimsical incident involving a coconut cream pie, making him a key player in a memorable April Fools' prank. Boskin, who passed away on February 16 at the age of 95, reflects an eccentric legacy that intertwines humor with academia; his death was not widely acknowledged despite his contributions to the field.
In March of 1983, a public relations official at Boston University asked Joseph Boskin, a scholar of humor in the history department, whether he knew anything about the origin of April Fools' Day.
What happened next was one of the kookiest episodes in the annals of April Fools' tomfoolery, with a revenge plot involving a coconut cream pie.
Professor Boskin told The Christian Science Monitor in 2010, but this seems to be my Andy Warhol moment. Professor Boskin died on Feb. 16, his family said.
His death had not been widely reported, highlighting the eccentric legacy he left in the realm of humor and the bizarre history of April Fools' Day.
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